Interview with Wing Tsang, Senior Account Executive

Wing Tsang, Senior Account Executive, sits down with the Claims Review editor as part of this regular interview series, in which we get to know ITIC’s claims handlers. He reflects on balancing claims handling with underwriting, navigating international claims, and the excitement of ship arrest cases. Wing also shares the career lessons that have shaped his approach to work and provides an insight into his life outside the office, including his love of travel, family and his dog. 

How do you balance claims handling with your other roles and responsibilities?

I am involved in both claims handling and underwriting, and I think both are equally important. What varies is usually the urgency of the matter. I try to prioritise my work using the matrix of very urgent, very important, less urgent and less important tasks. Having that structure helps me stay organised and ensures that the right things get attention at the right time.

What is the biggest challenge when it comes to claims?

Multiple jurisdictions, different legal systems, and finding the best way to support our members through them. Every country has its own laws and procedures, and navigating those differences while achieving a practical outcome for the member can be challenging.

What is your favourite part of dealing with a claim?

It has to be ship arrest cases. You need to think several steps ahead and work closely with experienced lawyers, court officials and local representatives to make it happen successfully. At ITIC, we are fortunate to have a great deal of experience in this area. Ship arrest is always a last resort, as we prefer to resolve matters commercially wherever possible, but the excitement and satisfaction of successfully executing a well-planned arrest are very real.

What is the most useful thing someone has taught you in your career?

Take things one step at a time. Learn to crawl, then walk, then run. Trying to skip steps usually creates more problems than it solves.

If you could swap roles with anyone in the shipping industry for a day, who would it be and why?

I would like to be a container crane operator for a day. I have never done it before, and I have always been fascinated by large machinery. Being responsible for moving containers safely and efficiently while sitting high above a busy terminal sounds like a unique perspective on the industry.

If you could name a ship, what would you call it and why?

‘MV KIMI’, named after my dog. Anyone who knows me knows how easy that decision would be.

What are your hobbies?

Spending time with my family and my dog, travelling, and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. One of the things I enjoy most, both professionally and personally, is learning about different people and their stories.

What is your favourite food?

That is a tricky one. For me, it is often more about how the food is cooked than what the food actually is. If I had to pick one dish, a medium-rare sirloin steak would always be a safe choice. It is hard to go wrong with a good steak.

If your workday had a soundtrack, what genre would it be?

A mix of classical music and rock. Most days involve planning, analysis and attention to detail, but every now and then a claim arrives that requires immediate action and raises the tempo considerably.

What is your favourite saying?

“Be thankful for everything.”

It is a simple reminder to appreciate both the good times and the difficult ones, because there is usually something to learn from every experience.