Inside HIVE: Building the Vision from the Ground Up
After spending his formative years managing operations in the fresh produce industry, working across global supply chains before founding his own business, Crispin Marsland-Roberts found his way into the world of insurance. A short while after in 2017, a chance breakfast with HIVE Underwriters’ CEO Bruce Carman saw him pivot his journey in the insurance world, towards building the foundations of what would become HIVE.
“We were sitting there, and I remember thinking that Bruce had all the building blocks to set up HIVE on his own.” It was clear Bruce had the plan that would stand the challenge to stand alone without third party investment, and his bravery to take the plunge soon led to a permanent partnership of Bruce and Crispin. From setting up bank accounts to shaping company systems, Crispin helped build the operational backbone of HIVE from scratch.
Officially, he’s the Chief Operating Officer. But in his own words, “I don’t really see myself as the ideas man. I see myself as an executor - someone who makes the vision happen.” That pragmatism has served HIVE well. Crispin focuses on the structures, processes, and communication frameworks that support the business day-to-day, and he’s driven by the idea that people should feel ownership over their roles.
“What we try to create is a sense that everyone’s contribution matters. We don’t tell people exactly what their job is and stop there. We give them the space to shape their role and grow with the business.”
Crispin places huge value on openness. His approach to leadership is rooted in accessibility, preferring a phone call or face-to-face chat over endless email chains. “I like conversations, not transactions,” he says. “It’s about building understanding, not just getting answers.”
Talking, Sharing and Learning
One example of that mindset is HIVE’s weekly meeting, a mix of open updates, training, and market discussion that gives everyone a voice. “We felt we needed better internal communication, so we just created the space. It’s not top-down. It’s everyone talking, sharing, learning.”
That culture of shared responsibility is something he’s proud of. “No one’s ever left the business. That tells me we’re getting something right.” As HIVE grows, Crispin is conscious of protecting the core values that brought the company this far: agility, trust, and a genuine sense of partnership.
For Crispin, the future of HIVE is about scaling without losing the soul. “The fundamentals don’t need to change. We can grow and still keep the feeling that this is a place where people care about work and about each other.”
