Zurich offers Certified Multinational Risk Advisor program with UGA

Zurich Multinational has launched a first-of-its-kind Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) professional designation, created in collaboration with the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, to help risk professionals navigate the growing complexity of global operations, coverages and regulations.

Designed for brokers, risk managers, underwriters and legal and compliance specialists, the CMRA program is a nine-week program that blends virtual coursework with in-person instruction and team-based simulations, culminating in the awarding of a professional designation and up to 24 continuing education credits. The inaugural cohort just concluded with a graduation ceremony and glowing reviews, including this: “Game-changer!” The second and third sessions, starting in June and September, already are scheduling enrollees, speaking to a latent need for training in multinational risks. 

“Navigating global programs isn’t generalist work. It’s a specialty that requires deliberate training,” said Spring Uphoff Neely, Senior Director of Multinational Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at Zurich in the U.S. “We are proud to have co-designed the first multinational-focused professional credential in the United States from an insurance provider and a leading risk management university. It combines Zurich’s decades of global insurance experience with the academic rigor of the Terry College of Business at UGA, a top-ranked university for risk management and insurance education.”

“CMRA reflects our commitment to strengthening multinational risk fluency,” said Bart Shachnow, Director of Zurich Academy in the U.S. “By bringing practical industry knowledge into a focused curriculum, we are helping professionals build the skills needed to design and manage global risk programs in a rapidly evolving environment.”

Global business regulatory requirements, compliance considerations and geopolitical dynamics have become increasingly complex. At the same time, traditional pathways for developing multinational insurance expertise have been constrained by limited training resources, a wave of retirements and gaps in knowledge transfer. The CMRA program was designed to help address these gaps by providing structured, credential-based learning focused on global risk management.

Case studies and scenario-based learning

The curriculum emphasizes practical application, including case studies and scenario-based learning designed to help professionals develop compliant, cost-effective global insurance strategies aligned with business objectives.

Through the program, participants build capabilities to:

• Coordinate insurance and risk management programs across multiple jurisdictions
• Navigate evolving regulatory and legislative requirements
• Identify emerging risks affecting multinational organizations
• Develop tailored risk strategies aligned with organizational objectives

The inaugural pilot program in 2025 drew participation from senior multinational broker leaders across the industry and received strongly positive feedback for its structure, practical relevance and collaborative format.

“From the initial pilot to today’s CMRA program, we’ve seen robust demand from brokers and clients seeking deeper expertise in multinational risk,” said Uphoff Neely. “This designation helps equip professionals with the tools they need to better support organizations operating across borders.”

Zurich developed the CMRA program as part of its broader strategy to invest in talent development and strengthen collaboration across the multinational risk ecosystem. Early feedback from participants has highlighted the program’s ability to enhance professional capabilities and differentiate Zurich in the marketplace.

The CMRA designation is delivered through Zurich Academy in collaboration with the University of Georgia’s Executive Education program and is available to qualified risk and insurance professionals. More information is available here.

The program builds on the success of the Middle Market Risk Manager professional designation in collaboration with another academic leader in risk management and insurance, St. John’s University Graduate School of Risk Management.

About Zurich U.S.