Cyber Heroes: Behind the Firewall – Episode 3: John Farley - The Evolution of Cyber Insurance, AI Risks & Navigating Corporate Crisis

In this episode, Sean Hoar sits down with John Farley, Managing Director of the Arthur J. Gallagher Cyber Practice Group. John reflects on his early life growing up in Bayside, Queens as the youngest of five boys in a close-knit Irish Catholic family, sharing how his parents' deep commitment to education and helping others shaped his core values. He recounts his career journey, spanning nearly 30 years in risk management and over a decade dedicated specifically to the evolving landscape of cyber insurance. John details the growth of Gallagher's cyber practice, from regional brokerage teams to global claims advocacy and risk consulting. He offers deep insights into emerging technologies, highlighting how artificial intelligence and quantum computing amplify risk across all lines of insurance. Finally, John shares his core leadership principles on hard work, the importance of humor in building lasting connections, and why running toward problems is the ultimate key to solving them.

About the Guest

John Farley is the Managing Director of the Cyber Practice Group at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., where he leads a national and global team of dedicated cyber insurance brokers, claims advocates, and risk consultants. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Manhattan University and brings nearly three decades of risk management experience to his role, including extensive specialization in privacy and cyber risk. A recognized industry thought leader, John frequently contributes to media outlets, advises on emerging cyber threats, and has engaged with federal policymakers on national cyber risk frameworks.

Key Moments

• Growing up in Queens, family influences, and early lessons in hard work
• The evolution of cyber insurance from early payment card breaches to complex ransomware
• How AI and deepfakes amplify risk across traditional lines of insurance
• Leadership principles, humor, and running toward complex problems

About the Host

Sean Hoar is a partner in Constangy’s Portland office and chair of the national Constangy Cyber Team, bringing over 25 years of experience in data privacy and information security. A former veteran cyber attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Sean served as lead cyber attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon and worked alongside the FBI and Secret Service to prosecute complex high-tech cybercrime—earning two DOJ Director's Awards for his service.

Recognized by Cybersecurity Docket as one of the premier data breach response lawyers in the country, Sean holds top industry credentials including CISSP, GISP, and CIPP/US. Today, he leads Constangy's national cyber practice, advising corporate executives and security teams on incident response, risk mitigation, and digital defense.