Bringing people together to drive meaningful change

Marco, take us back to your decision to join Sompo. What drew you to the Company?    

Joining Sompo was tied closely to a personal decision. I had been living in Colorado for a long time, but for family reasons my wife and I decided to relocate to New York, which meant I needed to find a New York–based role. I applied for a role at Sompo that looked interesting, went through the interview process, and was fortunate enough to be offered the position. I joined the US Financial Accounting team and looking back, it felt like a good fit from day one.   

You spent several years in Accounting before moving into Finance Transformation. How did that progression happen?  

I stayed in the accounting organization for almost seven years, moving through different roles as my responsibilities expanded. Over time, I realized I was increasingly interested in the “why” behind the work – how systems, processes and data came together, and where things could be improved.  

That curiosity eventually led me outside of traditional accounting and into finance transformation. I moved into my current role in March 2025, which marked a significant shift in my career. Instead of focusing on one function or region, I’m now working globally to help teams improve how they operate. 

You’re now based in Colorado again, working remotely. How did that transition work?  

In 2020, my wife and I decided to move back to Colorado. The biggest question for me was my job. I really enjoyed working at Sompo and didn’t want to leave the company. I spoke openly with my manager, who was incredibly supportive. She worked with HR, approvals were put in place, and the transition didn’t feel difficult at all. That flexibility said a lot about the culture. I’ve now been working remotely for around six years, and I’ve never felt disconnected from the team.   

How do you explain your role to someone outside of finance or even insurance?  

I usually strip away the technical language. At its core, my job is about global collaboration and improvement. I work with teams across the globe to understand their processes, identify pain points, and figure out where things can be made more efficient. From there, we turn those insights into projects that reduce manual work, free up time, and give teams more bandwidth to focus on what really matters.   

In many ways, it’s a customer‑service mindset – listening carefully, understanding challenges, and helping people work better together.   

Moving internally from a US-focused role to a global role must be as challenging as it is exciting. What changed for you when your role became global?  

The biggest change has been perspective. Working with teams in the US, UK, Singapore and beyond, you see that while local challenges differ, the mindset is often the same: people want what’s best for the company.   

It’s incredibly rewarding to see how aligned people are across regions and to learn how different parts of the business operate. It has expanded my understanding of Sompo as a whole and keeps the learning curve steep, which I enjoy.   

What parts of your role motivate you the most?  

The challenge. Even when I first joined Sompo, the complexity was clear. We’re a large company with many systems, data sources, and processes, and we continue to grow.   

I enjoy waking up each day knowing there’s a problem to work through, people to collaborate with, and progress to be made. Especially in my current role, seeing how collaboration evolves over time, from that first meeting to real change months later is incredibly satisfying.  

Where do you feel you add the most value to the business?   

I’d say my biggest contribution is bringing people together. I’ve always been someone who can walk into a difficult room and help turn it into a productive conversation.  

That ability to unite people, to make them feel heard, valued and aligned, doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and I’ve seen how rare it can be over the course of my career.  

What has kept you at Sompo?   

Career mobility and flexibility. I started as an accountant and later moved into finance transformation, essentially changing career paths within the same company. Not many organizations support that kind of transition so openly.   

Beyond that, there’s a strong culture of continuous improvement. Whether it’s training, certifications or attending conferences for the systems we use, Sompo is always willing to invest in people who want to grow. And, quite simply, I enjoy the people I work with. That matters a lot.   

Looking ahead, what excites you about the future?   

The industry is changing rapidly, becoming far more data‑driven and technology‑enabled. That creates both a challenge and an opportunity.  

As we grow, understanding how data flows, how systems connect and how insights support decision‑making becomes critical. I’m excited to be working in that space, helping the organization adapt and stay ahead.   

Being a global company also means continued exposure to new perspectives and ideas. That combination of technology, scale and people is what keeps me engaged.   

If you were speaking to young people considering their careers, what would you say to motivate them to consider insurance?  

I think many young people are looking for purpose and impact. Insurance and finance don’t always sound exciting at first glance, but when you reframe the conversation around systems, technology and innovation, it changes.   

Young professionals bring fresh perspectives on automation, AI and technology, and our industry needs that. If you understand both the business and the systems behind it, you can create something powerful. That opportunity to build, modernize, and innovate can be incredibly motivating.   

When there is no snow, hiking is the way to go 

And outside of work, what do you enjoy?  

Family and friends are a big source of energy for me. I love the outdoors – snowboarding in winter, hiking in summer – and I’m a big sports fan, especially basketball and (American) football.   

More than anything, I enjoy learning. Whether it’s improving a professional skill or picking up something new personally, I’m always keen to keep growing.   

Marco, thank you for talking to us about your career and your growth story.