Creating the Future Tech: VIPR Chairman Martin Blackburn

With a career spanning decades and crossing multiple industries, Chairman, Martin Blackburn brings a wealth of experience and insight to his role. We sat with him to discuss his journey, the challenges and opportunities facing VIPR, and his vision for the company's future.

From Software Engineer to Chairman

Blackburn’s trajectory in the tech industry commenced with his role as a software engineer at Marconi. He remarks on the complexity and technical prowess of VIPR with a sense of fascination. This initial chapter in software development has endowed him with a keen grasp of product evolution, ranging from the refinement of features to the exhilarating frontiers of artificial intelligence (AI).

Transitioning from Marconi to the startup atmosphere of Parity, Blackburn encountered the exhilarating challenges inherent in establishing a company from scratch. He recalls, "Recognising those challenges and contributing to making an impact was extremely exciting, as we endeavoured to accelerate the company's growth; it was a defining experience."

Martin’s entrepreneurial spirit didn't stop there. While at Logica, he initiated a SaaS software firm, a venture that was bootstrapped for a period of time - but never gave up on the impressive vision for success. With its data-driven approach, the firm mirrors many of the challenges and opportunities VIPR faces today, especially as it navigates the shift from license-based to SaaS models.

The ‘American Dream’ and the power of AI

Blackburn's tenure with American giants like EDS, HP, and IBM exposed him to the broader insurance and InsurTech sectors. This experience and his time in private equity have given him a unique perspective on the industry's landscape.

When asked about VIPR's strategic vision, Blackburn was clear with his point of view: "We do a fantastic job for our extensive customer base. Opportunities include exposing VIPR prospects and existing customers to enhanced software capabilities, broadening the VIPR ecosystem features and functionalities with AI and data-driven solutions.” Blackburn sees immense potential to strengthen VIPR’s presence in the delegated underwriting processing sector to enable better decision-making through data analytics.

Every industry has its hurdles, and InsurTech is no exception. Blackburn identifies the slower-moving nature of the insurance market compared to other sectors and its risk-averse tendencies as significant challenges. However, he believes as we drive strategic enhancements in the industry, we can overcome these obstacles by additional focus on customer-centric solutions and demonstrating the value of VIPR to accelerate our share of the market in multiple territories.

The U.S. market, Blackburn believes, presents the most significant opportunity outside of the UK to build our presence faster. "Moving into the US is a great opportunity for VIPR as we face some of the same challenges we have solved since 2009 for our existing customers," he says.

With the U.S. insurance market's vast potential, Blackburn envisions VIPR’s expanding its footprint significantly in the not so distant future.

Leadership and Culture

At the heart of VIPR's success is its culture. Blackburn emphasises the importance of putting customers at the centre of everything we do. He believes in teams that set targets, achieve them, and have fun. "Building a conscious awareness of what's going on and being transparent encourages employees to contribute more," he says. This is crucial.

Reflecting on the challenges of the pandemic over the past years, Blackburn recalls the resilience and determination of companies he has spent time with. "Never give up. There's always a plan," he advises, emphasising the importance of perseverance and adaptability.

Looking Ahead

With the VIPR executive team, Blackburn’s forward-thinking approach can accelerate VIPR’s future success at an accelerated pace. With a focus on customer-centric solutions, technological innovation, and a strong company culture, the future looks bright for VIPR.

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