Understanding the risks designers and contractors take, Michael Earp has dedicated his career to construction professional liability insurance. Earp is currently a managing director within Construction & Infrastructure at Aon US, where he serves as a broker and technical resource for the division.
Educational Foundation of Earp’s Career
Earp has 48 years of experience in his field and attributes his success to his ability to effectively communicate with clients and listen to their needs. Stepping outside of his comfort zone, such as transitioning from a life and career in London to one in the United States, has been an integral part of his personal and professional development.
The foundation of Earp’s career began in England with his academic achievements. He completed A-levels in mathematics, statistics, and economics and finished coursework in the Accountancy Foundation program at Norwich City College in Norwich, England, in 1977.
Earp is a construction risk and insurance specialist (CRIS) and received certification from the International Risk and Management Institute Inc. (IRMI) in 2019. He also received an honorary diploma for insurance and guarantees in construction contracts from Stowarzyszenie Inzynierow Doradcow I Rzeczoznawcow (SIDiR), a Polish engineering organization.
Expertise and Experience
Earp provides specific advice to owners, designers, and contractors for large construction projects on how to strategize their professional risk insurance procurement.
“I understand the risks that designers and contractors take when they construct buildings. Based on that understanding, I suggest the correct insurance coverage to ensure that they are adequately insured,” Earp explains.
Earp’s duties include the brokering of risks for large clients, traveling to clients and conducting meetings between clients and underwriters in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom. He has represented clients in the U.K., Europe, Australia, the Middle East, the U.S. and Canada. He also prepares strategy papers and authoritative white papers on multiple subjects for his clients. He has a global reach and can connect construction professional liability teams across Aon.
Earp is recognized in his industry as one of the world’s leaders in construction professional liability insurance. He has shared his expertise as the author of numerous policy wordings, as well as penning a chapter in a textbook that is used for insurance qualifications. In addition, he is the creator of unique insurance solutions that are currently utilized by those in the industry.
Mentorship and Furthering His Career
As Earp enters the twilight of his career, he is passionate about mentoring those rising through the ranks of the industry who seek to learn from his experiences.
“I have gained substantial knowledge over many years, and I think I’m a good communicator. People come to me when they have a problem. I can understand the problem and approach the problems differently, trying to take a problem and simplify it in a way that people can understand it,” Earp explains.
In the coming years, Earp is focused on maintaining a work-life balance. He enjoys traveling, playing tennis, sailing, and coaching rugby in his leisure time. He is currently working on his latest book, titled “Water’s Edge.”
