Darryl Cole

Global Cyber Product Consultant, Liberty Mutual: Age 39

Cyber insurance is one of the more dynamic corners of today’s business world. Just ask Darryl Cole.

“I would say the cyber insurance marketplace is evolving as rapidly as technology itself,” he said. “When I first started in underwriting, we were looking at theft of credit card data as the biggest exposure company could have, and we were looking at retail and hospitality operations — restaurants and hotels, things like that — as the most risky businesses. Now it’s a lot more generalized.”

Cole was an underwriter for a decade before taking on his latest expansive role at Liberty Mutual.

Photo by Bob Zemba, Simple Truth Imaging

“What I’m doing now is helping other underwriters do their job. I’m responsible for helping to set global strategies; set strategies for marketing materials, presentations, and content for our underwriters; and helping underwriters learn and develop, helping them understand what’s happening in the cyber market from an insurance perspective and a risk perspective. To be able to do that globally is pretty cool.”

Active in the community, Cole has been PTO president at his children’s school, served in his church’s youth ministry, volunteered for Junior Achievement and the United Way, and helped coordinate local efforts for Convoy of Hope.

And last year, he was elected president of Wilshire Athletic Assoc., one of the most venerable youth sports nonprofits in Western Mass., bringing his business acumen and ability to connect with people to the organization’s leadership.

“Because I have a business and insurance background, I noticed a few opportunities and I was really eager to bring Wilshire forward,” he said. “And we’ve hit this year running – we’ve increased our social media presence, brought in guest speakers for banquets, and put on a basketball showcase to celebrate our players. We have amazing volunteers – from our board of directors to coaches – and we’ve been able to accomplish a lot.”

Much of his volunteer work stems from his heart for children.

“I want to make sure kids are supported and cared for,” Cole said. “At my core, I just care about helping people in whatever way I can — particularly children, but anybody, really.

“As humans, we all deserve security and respect and care and support,” he went on. “And I’m always looking for ways to live up to those ideals, whether it’s an informal setting, offering whatever I can, or more formal opportunities like partnering with community organizations. I think it should be a way bigger part of the human experience to make sure our fellow humans have everything they need.”

—Joseph Bednar