XL Capital president and CEO Brian O'Hara urged heads of some of the world's leading organisations to adopt an industry-based coordinated approach to global problem solving and the planning of corporate social responsibility programmes.
Speaking at the opening of the second XL Capital Congress, a global risk conference focused on “One World Without Borders,” O'Hara challenged nearly 400 attendees to look beyond the numbers relating to catastrophes such as hurricanes and earthquakes to the human tragedies that they represent.
He said: “Society depends on us for more than just the payment of claims….it's all about adding value, about raising awarness of the issues, helping prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.
"We would like to see an industry-based coordinated approach to Corporate Social Responsibility planning being adopted, which could make better use of scarce resources in our risk industry.”
O'Hara suggested that in the longer term there could be a new role for companies, which could help shape a new global governance model and see more companies becoming partners in global problem solving.
He added: “What's needed are leaders committed to changing the way society organizes itself and the way we approach social problems. These leaders will be doing more than giving food or money away. They will be teaching the world to reorganise itself along more long-term sustainable lines,” he said.
“We are here to discover new perspectives,” O'Hara concluded. “I would like us to apply ourselves to finding out if there is a better way of creating and spreading prosperity.”
