Some of the credit probably should also go to the interviewer, Anjana Menon. We'll notice that her
questions were not all scripted, and several started out 'when you say...do you mean...?', and she kept following through on his strong subjects, really bringing him out.
She asked at one point whether he was referring to one of Buffet's 'three rules of underwriting', to which he started his reply 'I see you've done your homework'.
She asked about opportunities in India for Berkshire...and for his businesses specifically... whether corruption was a concern...whether he felt stymied because India was not open to reinsurance...whether he'd lobby...the relevance of Bajaj Allianz...
Specifically for reinsurance, she asked whether reinsurance was poorly priced now.....where he saw the next big reinsurance opportunity...what Berkshire's Japan exposure was...whether Japanese losses will affect pricing on other insurance products...
And her 'finite insurance' question started with 'many call you the pioneer of finite reinsurance, now controversial because many are misusing it' following with...do you think the days of finite insurance are numbered because of its mis-use...have you ever regretted pioneering the concept...what would you have done differently..
And finally the open 'what would you like your legacy to be'.....
These were all topics that might not have been discussed in depth without some thoughtful probing. Not a lot of soft pitches.
Both came across as unusually competent because both sides stepped up to the job. It would be terrific if Buffett and others would give Ms Menon an interview.
questions were not all scripted, and several started out 'when you say...do you mean...?', and she kept following through on his strong subjects, really bringing him out.
She asked at one point whether he was referring to one of Buffet's 'three rules of underwriting', to which he started his reply 'I see you've done your homework'.
She asked about opportunities in India for Berkshire...and for his businesses specifically... whether corruption was a concern...whether he felt stymied because India was not open to reinsurance...whether he'd lobby...the relevance of Bajaj Allianz...
Specifically for reinsurance, she asked whether reinsurance was poorly priced now.....where he saw the next big reinsurance opportunity...what Berkshire's Japan exposure was...whether Japanese losses will affect pricing on other insurance products...
And her 'finite insurance' question started with 'many call you the pioneer of finite reinsurance, now controversial because many are misusing it' following with...do you think the days of finite insurance are numbered because of its mis-use...have you ever regretted pioneering the concept...what would you have done differently..
And finally the open 'what would you like your legacy to be'.....
These were all topics that might not have been discussed in depth without some thoughtful probing. Not a lot of soft pitches.
Both came across as unusually competent because both sides stepped up to the job. It would be terrific if Buffett and others would give Ms Menon an interview.
