MGAs Building for Scale: Key Takeaways from the InsureTV Masterclass

06 25, 2026

INSTANDA's Business Development Director, Andy Watts, recently joined an expert panel on InsureTV to explore one of the MGA sector's most pressing questions: what does it really take to build for scale?

Alongside Michael Keating, CEO of the MGAA, James Wheddon, Managing Director at Mi Specialty, and Tim Quayle, CEO of OneAdvent, Andy brought INSTANDA's perspective on the technology decisions that separate MGAs positioned for growth from those that stall.

Technology as the Foundation for Scale

Andy was direct on where scalable growth begins: automation and digital front ends. MGAs that have reduced their dependency on manual processes are best placed to grow without a proportional rise in costs. It was a view the panel broadly shared. Michael Keating reinforced that the right technology, deployed with clear intent, is a genuine enabler for the sector, while Tim Quayle framed it as the foundation that allows great teams to do more. James Wheddon echoed the point from an operator's perspective, describing how breaking down manual processes to identify automation opportunities had driven real efficiency gains at Mi Specialty.

Andy also stressed configurability as the critical differentiator. He pointed to one INSTANDA client, an international MGA, that launched nearly 50 products in its first year: a pace only possible because the underlying technology allowed rapid, low-friction change. Historic, fixed-architecture systems simply could not have supported it.

Connectivity and Distribution

On distribution, Andy stressed that configurable APIs, rather than bespoke, hand-crafted integrations, are now table stakes for any MGA serious about growth. As processes increasingly cross organizational boundaries, the ability to connect with brokers, capacity providers, and other technology components is commercially essential. Michael Keating gave that point added weight, citing MGAA research showing that over 50% of brokers are actively calling for more e-traded products from MGAs, making the connectivity agenda more urgent than ever.

AI: Augmentation, not Replacement

Andy's position on AI was measured and grounded, and it found clear agreement around the table. INSTANDA is building technology that supports human underwriters rather than replacing them, and James Wheddon spoke to the same instinct from the underwriting side: the relationships, the judgment, the ability to read a risk, these remain human capabilities that no model yet replicates. Tim Quayle added that the real prize is ensuring the best people are freed up to do more, with AI absorbing the predictable, process-heavy work so underwriters can focus on what genuinely requires expertise.

On workforce evolution, Andy noted that as AI takes on more of the routine, businesses need to recruit people motivated by technology. It was a theme that resonated across the panel, with broader acknowledgement that the industry faces a real question about how the next generation learns its craft as entry-level roles evolve.

The Technology Due Diligence Moment

One of Andy's more telling observations was the growing role of technology infrastructure in how capacity providers assess MGAs. The quality of a tech stack, and its ability to deliver robust management information, is increasingly part of how capital providers evaluate governance. Collectively, the panel confirmed the same pattern, noting that robust, well-evidenced plans backed by experienced teams are what the market is backing right now.