2025 Cayman Captive Forum Set to Spotlight Innovation Under New Chair Michael Wild

Editor's Note: The Cayman Captive Forum, hosted by the Insurance Managers Association of Cayman (IMAC), returns to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, December 2–4, 2025. With a robust agenda spanning artificial intelligence (AI) in captive management, evolving regulatory priorities, and innovative healthcare risk financing, the forum remains the largest gathering of captive insurance professionals in the world.

This year marks a leadership transition as Michael Wild steps into his new role as forum chair, guiding the event's continued focus on education, collaboration, and global engagement. Captive.com spoke with Mr. Wild about what attendees can expect at this year's forum, key industry themes, and how IMAC is shaping the next era of Cayman's captive insurance sector.

As the new chair of the Cayman Captive Forum, what are your priorities for building on the event's global reputation for thought leadership and community?

As the new chair, my priority is to build on the incredible success of the last 30-plus forums, ensuring we continue to offer an experience that brings together the best and brightest minds in the captive insurance industry. A core strength of the forum has always been its thought leadership—the quality of ideas and insights shared by our speakers. We're committed to curating content that addresses some of the most pressing issues facing captives today, while also exploring what's on the horizon. That means delivering sessions that provide not just valuable information but practical takeaways that attendees can implement within their organizations.

Another key focus is enhancing networking opportunities and our first-time attendee programmes to foster meaningful connections across the global captive community. Ultimately, my goal as the new IMAC forum chair is to ensure the forum remains the place where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are forged, and the future of captive insurance is shaped.

This year's agenda includes sessions on AI transformations, tort reform, and investment strategy. Which topics do you think will resonate most with attendees in 2025, and why?

The topics you've highlighted reflect many of the core challenges and opportunities shaping the current captive insurance landscape. I expect the session on AI transformations to be one of the most well-attended, as captive owners and managers are eager to understand how AI can enhance risk assessment, streamline operations, and improve decision-making, while also addressing the legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations that come with its adoption.

Tort reform is another critical area, particularly for healthcare captives, as legislative changes can significantly impact liability exposure and claims management strategies. Captive professionals want clarity on how these developments may influence their programmes and what proactive steps they can take to mitigate risks.

Investment strategy also remains a perennial priority, especially in a market with economic uncertainty and fluctuating interest rates. Captive boards are seeking guidance on how to balance risk and return while maintaining compliance and liquidity. We've assembled an exceptional panel of experts to provide timely insights and meaningful guidance on these issues.

The forum traditionally brings together regulators, managers, and owners. How is IMAC fostering dialogue among these stakeholders amid evolving international standards for transparency and governance?

In an era of evolving international standards for transparency and governance, fostering collaboration among all stakeholders is essential. IMAC achieves this by ensuring that regulatory voices, particularly from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), are central to the forum's agenda. The annual regulatory update session provides attendees with direct insight into CIMA's priorities and expectations, creating clarity around compliance and supervisory trends. Throughout the year, IMAC also works closely with CIMA to maintain open communication with our industry partners, and the forum serves as an important platform to reinforce these messages across the global captive community.

Beyond formal sessions, IMAC encourages open dialogue through networking events and informal discussions, where stakeholders can share perspectives on emerging global developments. In particular, the Tuesday afternoon sessions at the forum offer valuable opportunities for attendees to connect directly with managers and other Cayman-based service providers, as these presentations often feature local expertise.

Ultimately, the forum is designed to facilitate meaningful interaction among regulators, managers, and captive owners—across sessions, meeting rooms, and evening events—to help reinforce Cayman's reputation as a jurisdiction that values transparency, accountability, and partnership.

With many sessions focused on healthcare and risk innovation, how do you see the Cayman market continuing to evolve as a leading domicile for complex captive insurance structures?

Cayman's position as a leading domicile for complex captive structures continues to strengthen, and the 2025 agenda reflects that trajectory. While healthcare and group captives remain a cornerstone of our market, what's particularly exciting is how Cayman is expanding beyond traditional models, embracing innovation in alternative risk financing and the growing use of capital markets as a means of building capacity.

We're also seeing notable growth in the reinsurance space. In this regard, the Cayman International Reinsurance Companies Association (CIRCA) will have a dedicated session at the forum to help attendees deepen their understanding of the growth areas in the reinsurance space, highlighting the collaboration between CIRCA and IMAC.

Cayman's continued success is driven by the exceptional depth of expertise and talent based in the Cayman Islands. The forum provides a unique opportunity for these professionals to connect with onshore stakeholders and service providers, exchange perspectives, and explore new solutions for increasingly complex structures. This collaborative environment is central to Cayman's ongoing leadership and innovation in the global captive market.

The forum's success depends on strong participation from across the industry. What new or expanded opportunities—such as networking, sponsorships, or first-time attendee programs—can participants look forward to this year?

In addition to our signature social events, including the Welcome Reception, the Beach Reception on Seven Mile Beach, and the Golf Tournament, we're expanding on last year's highly popular Pickleball Tournament by increasing capacity so that more attendees can participate. These activities offer relaxed, engaging settings for conversations that often lead to lasting professional relationships.

For first-time attendees, the New Attendee Breakfast returns, providing an opportunity to meet the forum's Planning Committee and gain valuable insights on how to make the most of the forum experience. We've also refreshed our Wednesday evening event and look forward to welcoming attendees to Camana Bay.

From your perspective, how is IMAC working to ensure that the next generation of professionals—both in Cayman and globally—finds a pathway into the captive insurance sector?

IMAC is committed to building a sustainable talent pipeline for the captive insurance industry, both locally and globally. One of our key initiatives is the IMAC Educational Scholarship Fund (ESF), which has provided over $5 million in scholarships to Caymanian students pursuing higher education. For 2025 alone, IMAC has awarded US$483,000 to 15 students. This programme not only supports academic excellence but also creates a clear pathway for young professionals to enter the insurance sector.

Beyond scholarships, IMAC actively engages with universities, career fairs, and internship programmes to raise awareness of the opportunities within captive insurance. We also leverage the Cayman Captive Forum as a platform for mentorship and networking, connecting emerging professionals directly with industry leaders and giving them invaluable real-world exposure to the breadth and potential of this dynamic sector.

Finally, what do you personally find most rewarding about leading this year's forum, and what do you hope attendees will take away from the experience?

As you can imagine, a tremendous amount of work goes into organizing a 3-day event of this scale, but I've been fortunate to build on the solid foundation established by past chairs and planning committees. Leading this year's Cayman Captive Forum has been an incredibly rewarding experience because it represents the culmination of months of collaboration, creativity, and dedication from an exceptional volunteer team.

What I find most fulfilling is seeing how the forum brings together such a diverse community of captive owners, service providers, regulators, and thought leaders—here in this beautiful place I'm proud to call home. Each year, I look forward to reconnecting with long-time friends and colleagues, making new acquaintances, and showcasing an industry that all IMAC members are proud to be a part of.

My hope is that every attendee leaves with clarity, confidence, and connection: clarity on the trends, regulations, and innovations shaping the captive industry; confidence to make informed decisions and lead effectively in a rapidly changing environment; and meaningful connections that extend well beyond the forum.

Courtesy photo of Michael Wild provided by IMAC