Datos Insights, a global provider of research, data, and advisory services to the financial services and insurance industries, has appointed Madeline Bailey as Head of InsTech, effective October 1, 2026. The appointment establishes a new leadership structure for InsTech as its longtime leaders, Matthew Grant and Robin Merttens, transition into roles as Datos Fellows.
Bailey has served as Executive Principal of InsTech since July 2026, working alongside Grant and Merttens on the organization’s executive leadership team.
In her new role, she will lead InsTech’s growth, member engagement, and strategic direction while continuing to collaborate with its advisory team and industry community.
Bailey brings more than 20 years of experience across insurance, technology, consulting, and innovation, providing experience relevant to InsTech’s work connecting insurance industry participants with emerging technologies and market developments.
Her appointment follows a transition period during which she has worked with Grant and Merttens on the organization’s leadership and operating priorities.
Merttens co-founded InsTech in 2015, and he and Grant have led the organization for approximately a decade.
During that period, InsTech developed its industry community and advisory activities, connecting insurance executives, technology providers, investors, and other participants interested in innovation across the insurance market.
The new leadership structure will give Bailey responsibility for day-to-day strategic direction while allowing Grant and Merttens to continue contributing through more specialized roles.
Both executives are joining the Datos Fellows Program, which Datos Insights introduced in 2025.
The program brings together experienced industry leaders whose knowledge and relationships complement the firm’s full-time research and advisory teams.
As Fellows, Grant and Merttens will remain closely involved with InsTech while concentrating on specific products and community initiatives.
Grant will continue hosting the InsTech podcast, maintaining his involvement in industry discussions and interviews.
Merttens will continue hosting and moderating selected InsTech events, preserving his connection to the organization’s professional community.
The arrangement is intended to retain the executives’ institutional knowledge and established industry relationships while giving Bailey a clear leadership mandate.
Datos Insights said the transition will not interrupt InsTech’s advisory services or member-facing programs.
Bailey will continue working with Grant and Merttens throughout the transition to maintain continuity across the organization’s activities.
Her priorities include strengthening member relationships, expanding engagement, and introducing InsTech to additional segments of the insurance market.
The appointment also reflects Datos Insights’ broader strategy of combining practitioner expertise with proprietary research and advisory capabilities.
The company provides research and advisory services to banking, insurance, and securities firms, as well as technology providers serving those industries.
Its offerings include proprietary data, analytics, and industry expertise intended to support strategic planning, technology investment decisions, and business transformation initiatives.
Within that broader organization, InsTech serves as a community and information platform focused on technological developments and innovation in insurance.
Its activities connect established insurance organizations with emerging technology companies and other participants working to develop new products, services, and operating models.
By transitioning Grant and Merttens into Fellows roles, Datos Insights intends to preserve their involvement in the community while giving Bailey greater responsibility for its future development.
The leadership changes will become effective on October 1, 2026, following Bailey’s initial three-month period working with InsTech’s executive team.
KEY QUOTES:
“Maddy has proven in just a few months what she can do for this community, and I’m thrilled to see her take the lead. I also want to thank Matthew and Robin for building InsTech into what it is today. Their move to Datos Fellows means we keep their expertise and their voice in the community, just in a role that fits this next stage of growth.”
Kavitha Venkita, CEO of Datos Insights
“I’m honored to lead InsTech into this next chapter. Matthew and Robin built something our members genuinely trust, and my focus is on reinforcing that trust as we grow, deepening the relationships and the insight members have come to expect, while opening InsTech up to new parts of the market.”
Madeline Bailey, Incoming Head of InsTech
