A Q&A with Sander Kernkamp: On supporting Simplifai and the future of insurance

At Simplifai, we’re driven by people who challenge the status quo – and few embody that spirit better than Sander Kernkamp, our newly appointed Non-Executive Board member.

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In a conversation with Simplifai CEO Artem Gonchakov, Sander shares what pulled him toward Simplifai at this point in his journey, what Agentic AI really means for the industry, and his outlook on Insurtech trends.

Blog

Insurance

Claims Automation

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Published on

July 3, 2025

Why Simplifai - and why now?

Artem: You’ve had a remarkable career across major financial institutions. What drew you to Simplifai at this stage in your journey?

Sander: “Throughout my career, I’ve consistently promised clients that data and technology would bring speed, customer focus, and cost reduction. With AI, that promise is finally being fulfilled. Simplifai is a mature organization active in this domain for eight years. Their technology is cutting-edge, and the company is deeply experienced and sharply focused on the insurance sector – excelling especially in claims handling. The latest platform update truly delivers on all the potential we’ve talked about for years.”

Artem: What excites you most about joining a company focused on Agentic AI for insurers?

Sander: “I firmly believe that innovation should be led by smaller, focused, and specialized players. Larger firms can adopt innovations later and help scale them. Instead of competing with smaller pioneers, big players should support, empower, and fund them. Agentic AI will only truly succeed through joint development.”

The mindset behind successful innovation

Artem: You lead a successful scale-up at Zego Nederland. What lessons from that experience will you bring to Simplifai’s board?

Sander: “Relentless focus. When you’re tempted by adjacent opportunities and have the resources to pursue them, take a step back and think twice. Stay true to your core business and strive to be exceptional in that area.”

Artem: Is there a particular moment in your career that shaped your views on innovation or leadership?

Sander: “One key lesson: in a complex and innovative business, you must first deeply understand the subject before you can manage it effectively. Operating at a high level isn’t enough. At times, when I couldn’t clearly explain what was going on to others, my leadership wasn’t successful. While ChatGPT has helped many experience the power of AI, it’s the AI agents that will define the future.”

Artem: What does responsible AI deployment mean to you in a regulated industry like insurance?

Sander: “Regulators worldwide share a common concern: that AI could lead to systems that are opaque and difficult to control. It’s our responsibility to ensure that technologies like Agentic AI remain transparent and manageable. This may naturally slow development to some extent, but it will lead to more stable and responsible progress in the long run.”

Where insurance is heading

Artem: What trends in the European insurance market should we be paying close attention to?

Sander: “I’d keep a close eye on developments across the insurance landscape – particularly in AI, market consolidation, climate change adaptation, and cybersecurity. These areas demand swift innovation and thoughtful leadership.”

Artem: How do you see AI transforming underwriting and claims handling in the next 3–5 years?

Sander: “Traditional insurance processes involve many steps and frequent delays, with a significant error margin. AI will make these operations more efficient by reducing errors and speeding up workflows – ultimately lowering operational costs and improving the customer experience in both time and money.”

Artem: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to leaders navigating digital transformation today?

Sander: “Build your strategy around partnerships. Be honest about where others outperform you and embrace collaboration. Focus your own strengths and use them to their fullest potential.”

Don’t miss what’s next in insurance AI

With Sander’s experience and challenge-oriented mindset at the board level, we’re doubling down on what we do best – building transparent, intuitive Agentic AI that helps insurers solve real problems.

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