Alastair Grigg, Founder, (Re)in Asia
In today’s fast-paced world of media, where content can often feel disposable and driven by clicks, true editorial integrity has become a rare find. For industries like insurance—complex, highly regulated, and often misunderstood—access to deep, unbiased insights is more crucial than ever. Yet, many publications have given in to commercial pressures, losing sight of their readers’ needs in favor of advertiser-driven content. As a result, the digital space is flooded with shallow articles, recycled press releases, and AI-generated content, making it harder for readers to find real value. But in such a competitive environment, there are still a few who dare to do things differently. ( Re)in Asia is one such unbiased, B2B publication with absolute editorial independence and integrity. Founded by Alastair Grigg, a bold visionary driven by a passion for editorial independence and a commitment to providing in-depth, reader-first content.
Alastair’s entrepreneurial spark ignited at a young age, and by high school, he was already working on several ideas. One example was teaching himself HTML so that he could earn money by creating websites for his peers. Yet, Alastair’s journey was never just about earning; it was about learning and growing. While most teenagers were busy following the usual high school routine, Alastair completed a Certificate in Information Technology outside of school hours driven by an innate desire to explore and learn. That same curiosity continued throughout his university years and beyond. Alastair didn’t just settle into a career after graduating. Instead, he pursued a variety of formal qualifications in areas like business operations, marketing, finance, and compliance, broadening his expertise far beyond the scope of his daily work. It was this drive to keep learning and evolving—that shaped him into the versatile founder and leader he is today.
Bridging Three Crucial Gaps In Insurance Media
With nearly seven years of experience working in a finance B2B publication with high editorial standards, Alastair witnessed firsthand the immense value that unbiased, in-depth content could bring to an industry. He saw how this unwavering dedication to unbiased reporting benefited the finance sector and knew that insurance professionals, with their equally complex needs, would value the same approach. This insight inspired him to launch (Re)in Asia, a platform he envisioned to fill three crucial gaps in insurance media.
The first gap Alastair sought to bridge was the need for absolute editorial independence. In a world where many publications are swayed by commercial influences, Alastair made it a core principle that (Re)in Asia would remain unbiased. He admits that no publication can claim perfection in capturing every nuance, but what (Re)in Asia can promise is that its insights are free from external pressures—driven purely by a commitment to the truth. The second gap was the lack of deep, nuanced coverage in the insurance industry across Asia-Pacific. Alastair noticed that much of the trade media in the region relied heavily on press releases or aggregated content, which often falls short of addressing the complexities and emerging risks in this diverse field. To address this, Alastair’s team delves deeper—talking directly to practitioners, uncovering growth opportunities, and shedding light on issues that were overlooked by more established competitors. Lastly, Alastair recognized a third opportunity that was often ignored in B2B publishing: the user experience. “I think B2B publishing is an industry where arguably there hasn’t been a huge degree of innovation for some time. I see opportunities around not just the types of solutions we can provide, but also the user experience we can deliver to our readers – to make it easier for them to find and consume the information they’re looking for,” elucidates Alastair.
Defying the Odds with Unshakable Vision
When Alastair launched (Re)in Asia, many viewed it as a bold, even risky, move. After all, stepping into an industry already crowded with established players is no easy feat. But that didn’t shake Alastair’s conviction. While it wasn’t easy hearing doubts, especially from those he respected, he remained undeterred, determined to rise above the noise and carve out a new space in the market.
Just a week after launching, (Re)in Asia received its first inquiry, and by the end of the first month, it had secured its first client. Within six months of launch, (Re)in Asia was already setting itself apart from competitors by delivering innovative solutions, like an editorial-first whitepaper that took a fresh approach to content and delivered outstanding results for a commercial partner. Not long after, one of its journalists, Blake Evans-Pritchard, represented (Re)in Asia in a television interview about marine insurance on BBC World News. Such credibility and exposure, achieved in such a short time, was a clear sign that (Re)in Asia was becoming a force to be reckoned with. Recently, the publication released its well-received first print edition and received a nomination as Hong Kong Startup of the Year. While these milestones are certainly worth celebrating, Alastair knows there’s still a long road ahead. “We’re ahead of the initial milestones that were set before the launch of the business. But while I’m satisfied with the progress we’ve made, I know there’s a lot more work ahead if we want to be truly successful,” he adds.
Leading with Trust and Customer-Centricity
For Alastair, trust is the cornerstone of his leadership at (Re)in Asia. He takes pride in working alongside a dedicated team that not only shares his vision but also comprises experts or those eager to become experts. Alastair knows that (Re)in Asia wouldn’t be where it is today without the efforts of his team, and he makes sure not to take their dedication for granted. However, like many founders, Alastair admits the instinct to micromanage can be strong. But he’s learned that this approach can be detrimental, as constantly pointing out minor mistakes not only hampers efficiency but can erode the trust he works so hard to build. “When people know that you trust and respect them, they’re not afraid to speak up, voice their opinions, and suggest new ideas. And plenty of the team’s suggestions have already helped to drive the business forward,” affirms Alastair.
But for him, it’s not just about his internal team—he’s equally focused on the customers. Alastair ensures that every decision at (Re)in Asia is made with the customer in mind. Having worked at businesses of all sizes, Alastair’s seen firsthand how easy it is for businesses to prioritize profits over people, tweaking things to make money first and worrying about the customer later. He knew (Re)in Asia had to be different. That’s why he fosters a mindset of constant adjustment and experimentation within the team. “We’re always tweaking, always trying something new,” shares Alastair. Whether the idea comes from his team or directly from clients, he’s open to testing it out, even if only 60% of those innovations end up sticking. For him, the real victory is in the learning, as long as they never lose sight of who they’re really innovating for—the customer.
Prioritizing Editorial Integrity Over Profit
Alastair’s commitment to editorial integrity is the beating heart of (Re)in Asia, setting it apart in the competitive APAC insurance landscape. From day one, he’s made it clear that the publication’s content will never be influenced by advertising dollars or client relationships. “I’m confident we’re the only APAC insurance publication where none of our journalists knows who our subscribers or even advertising clients are unless they happen to see an ad. To an outsider, that might seem slightly insane – that a relatively new and growing business isn’t talking about who their clients are with their entire team every single day. But that’s how important editorial independence is to us – it’s pivotal to what we do,” asserts Alastair.
This fierce dedication to independence might mean leaving some money on the table in the short term, but Alastair is confident it’s a long-term investment in quality. His commitment to quality content over quick profits is further exemplified by his decision to put up a paywall from the very beginning. Despite industry norms suggesting he should hook readers with free content first, Alastair refuses to compromise. “I can’t think of a better way to disappoint a loyal client base that we’re working hard to build, than by purposely getting them used to free content and then pulling that rug out from underneath them in a few years. While that approach has worked for countless publications, it doesn’t gel with (Re)in Asia’s mantra of putting the customer first,” he opines.
Breaking New Ground in Insurance Media
(Re)in Asia has already made ripples in the industry, and Alastair says that he has seen some ideas already being adopted by more established competitors. But rather than seeing this as a threat, the team view it as a positive. “I think we’ll see more of our ideas, like the editorial-first whitepaper, being replicated. But that’s a good thing, it means we’re already driving innovation and competition in an industry where I think more is needed, and that will produce a net benefit for everyone.”
But even with its early impact, (Re)in Asia isn’t content to rest on its laurels. At its core, (Re)in Asia is a modern B2B publication with deeply traditional editorial values, but it aspires to be much more. The company has five ambitious projects lined up for the next 12 to 36 months. Alastair is reluctant to provide specifics, but he gives an example of one project that won’t drive revenue but it has already garnered excitement from clients who are both intrigued and surprised by its originality.
Alastair believes that if (Re)in Asia were merely copying competitors or adhering to standard practices, they wouldn’t have survived their first year. The real measure of success, he feels, is when competitors say, “That’s not how we do things here.” He takes it as the ultimate compliment. Moving ahead, Alastair aims to continue pushing boundaries and inspire a new wave of innovation across the sector.“We’re already bringing fresh ideas to the market and, if we continue to do that, I’m sure that will help breed more friendly competition and more innovation, and it’s our clients who will inevitably reap the benefits,” he concludes.