Post - 2010-03-18
Articles in this issue
Management shake-up at Giles sees Pearson axed
The retail managing director of Giles Insurance Brokers, Howard Pearson, was the highest profile casualty of a management shake-up at the consolidator announced earlier this week.
Lloyd's box plan on hold as Towergate 'changes tack'
Towergate's plan to set up an underwriting box in Lloyd's in early 2010 has been put on ice following a "change of tack" regarding the development of its underwriting strategy.
Aviva revealed as insurer of City fire complex
Aviva has confirmed it is the insurer for the four-storey complex in Tabernacle Street in the City of London destroyed by a fire that broke out in the early hours of 11 March.
LV sets target of £250m
LV is set to offer its fleet motor products to brokers via its branch network by April in a bid to hit £250m worth of commercial business by 2012.
CCRIF wants more coverage
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility is urging its international donor partners for assistance to enable it to step up the coverage available to member countries.
London loses insurance crown to Hong Kong
A report placing Hong Kong above London as the world's leading insurance centre has caused consternation among Lloyd's and London market underwriters.
Legal blow for Autofocus
Accident Exchange has landed the latest blow in its legal battle with Autofocus after a former employee of the credit hire reporting company was handed a suspended 28-day prison sentence for contempt of court.
Tesco signs software deal with Cheshire Datasystems
Tesco Bank has agreed a five-year deal for the provision of its customer service centre and website software with Cheshire Datasystems.
Cautious welcome for dog insurance u-turn
The Association of British Insurers has welcomed the government's decision to abandon plans to introduce compulsory insurance for all dog owners, but warned that the insurance industry has not heard the last of the issue.
Fortis rebrands insurance arm as pre-tax profits fall
Fortis is to rename its insurance operation as Ageas following the break up of its parent company and the sale of its sister banking arm and brand to BNP Paribas 18 months ago.
LAM set to return within two years
London Authorities Mutual could make a return to the market within the "next 12 to 24 months", according to its management company.
Editor's comment: How many have Ageas concern out there?
Rebrands are always difficult at the best of times, but in insurance they seem to hold extra resonance.
QBE hopes to quell concerns
QBE expects its new-look underwriting structure to address broker concerns over the cross-selling of its products, chief executive Steven Burns has said.
Tories: FSA consumer body will not alter plan
The Financial Services Authority has stepped up its intensive supervision goals for 2010, by outlining plans for a new consumer protection committee.
Webinar online
A WEBINAR discussion on the recently launched Aldermanbury Declaration is now available for viewing on-demand.
Allianz raises concerns over crane scheme
Allianz Engineering has questioned the effectiveness of a new tower crane safety scheme due to come into force on 6 April.
Chartis shake-up linked to Solvency II
Chartis UK chief executive Alexander Baugh has been appointed president and CEO of Chartis Europe Holdings.
SBJ boss hails Lonmar intent after rebrand
SBJ Global Risks has rebranded as Lonmar Global Risks in a move to clearly align itself with the London and international specialist insurance market.
NIG aims to double SME market share
NIG has insisted its relationships with regional brokers have not been impacted by its UK restructure, after finalising the underwriting line-up of the company's regional centres.
Plum reveals parallel strategy for growth
Plum Underwriting plans to double new business and grow its agency base in 2010.
E&Y: claims board voice needs to be stronger
Providing claims professionals with a stronger voice at board level could prove vital in increasing the claims efficiency of the insurance industry.
MYI opens 11th office in Leeds
Niche commercial loss adjusting group MYI has opened its 11th UK office in Leeds with the recruitment of two senior adjusters.
Stakeholders join forces
Stakeholders including the Association of British Insurers and the Trades Union Congress have joined forces to raise awareness about the upcoming reforms to the way low cost road accident personal injury claims are handled.
Evander MBO opens new client stream up
Insurance services provider Evander believes that its recent management buyout has opened up a significant new potential client stream for it.
Election 2010: Interview - Adam Price, MP, Plaid Cymru
In the fourth of Post's six part series, profiling the major political parties, Mairi MacDonald talks to MP Adam Price about Plaid Cymru's plans and priorities.
Interview: Jon Dye - Making it work
With a stated aim of reaching £1bn by 2013, Jon Dye talks to Jonathan Swift about why a recent downturn in Allianz Retail's GWP masks a lot of progress towards that goal.
Biba 2010: Aggrogators, ale and Willis and Marsh
Post has unearthed the centuries old diary of Daul Ponaldson, Sun Insurance employee, revealing details of his first Great British Insurance Brokers' Association conference.
Postbox: Burgess: I was wrong about consolidators
In January 2008, my business British Insurance became part of the Towergate Partnership.
View from the top: Driving changes forward
The insurance market is highly competitive. Over the past few years, increases in claims costs have not been passed on in premiums. However, this has not been sustainable, with a recent insurance premium index showing the largest annual increase in motor…
Lloyd's /London market: Thoroughly modern
With London still perceived as an expensive place to conduct business, Daniel Dunkley reports on the London Market Group's ambitious plans for modernisation.
Lloyd's: Claims transformation programme - The need for speed
With the Lloyd's claim's transformation programme pilot underway, Tim Willcock plots the key stages in the plan to improve claims processes for managing agents.
London market: offshore wind of change
Offshore wind energy is going to be big business — and so too the opportunities for insurers. But not all of it will be plain sailing for underwriters, explains Matthew Yau.
Aviation losses: accounting issues
The accounting issues surrounding lost profits, following the loss of a passenger plane, are complex and require detailed knowledge of the airline industry. Frédérique Hardy provides a guide to quantification.
Start ups : insurers - regulatory hoops
Huge costs and the pressure of regulation have been seen as barriers to setting up an insurer in the UK — so why are so many companies considering this option now, asks David Young.
Legal analysis - harassment claims
Paula Jefferson takes a look at what role employment tribunals may play in future harassment claims and the consequences for insurers.
Law reports: Court rules antenatal care was not negligent
Jones v North West Strategic Health Authority (Queen's Bench Division — 5 February 2010)
Law reports: RTA decision backs norm
Richardson v Butcher (Queen's Bench Division — 12 February 2010)
Law reports: Injury at health and fun day was not fault of employer
Robert Lee Uren v Corporate Leisure (UK) and others (Queen's Bench Division — 22 January 2010).
Open GI raises a record-breaking £26 000 for Cancer Research
Open GI has beaten its own fundraising record with a donation of £26 000 to Cancer Research UK.
Kwik Fit backs school with help from rugby stars
International rugby stars Johnnie Beattie and Alastair Kellock took time out from Six Nations training to support Kwik Fit Insurance in launching its 2010 charity of the year initiative.
Job dissatisfaction creates an unhealthy work atmosphere
A lack of fulfilment and career progression is impacting business productivity in the UK, according to a new report produced by Bupa.
Careers: Ask the experts
After a couple of years without a pay rise, I have decided to move to a competitor. What kind of premium should I expect?
International PMI - a favourable diagnosis
The stereotypical view of international private medical insurance no longer holds true. Veronica Cowan reports on how an increasingly diversified market offers opportunities for insurers and brokers alike.
Penny black's insurance week
What a week it was for branding geeks.
Looking Back 10 Years Ago: Insurers hit by high claims costs
Insurers suffered their second-heaviest claims burden ever last year — only 1992, the year of Hurricane Andrew, was worse.
Looking Back 5 Years Ago: Real-time MID updates are scrapped
Insurers have abandoned plans for real-time updating of the Motor Insurance Database on cost grounds, instead opting for a seven-day requirement. And the Association of British Insurers and the Motor Insurers' Bureau urged the government and the industry…