Post - 2010-05-27
Articles in this issue
Quinn administrator biding time over redundancies
The true level of take-up for the offer of voluntary redundancy among Quinn Insurance staff may not be known until the second week of June.
Aviva director leaves
Aviva has confirmed that Brigid Murphy, director of regional brokers for the UK general insurance business, will leave in June.
Giles takes over Hampden
Giles Insurance Brokers has acquired the retail broking division of James Hampden Insurance Brokers.
Allianz First Direct deal
Allianz Corporate Partner has secured a three-year deal with First Direct, part of HSBC Group, to provide mobile phone insurance for First Direct's 70 000 account holders as of 1 June.
RBSI may put off full review until 2011
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance is considering extending the contracts of its loss adjusting panel until July 2011 rather than launching a full review this summer.
RTA PI claims portal endures "bumpy ride"
The new portal for administering road traffic accident personal injury claims has had a "bumpy ride", despite the high number of electronic claims notification forms created since the live date of 30 April.
Direct Group expands further with EVS deal
Insurance services provider Direct Group, backed by Lloyds Development Capital, has completed the acquisition of Evander Validation Services for an undisclosed sum.
Ex-Brokerbility chiefback with new team
Former Brokerbility chief executive Stuart Randall has teamed up with senior staff from Evergreen and Axa for his return to the insurance market, Post has learnt.
FSA in limbo as coalition puts Bank of England in charge
The coalition government has granted macro-prudential regulation of financial services to the Bank of England to rectify the "defective" tripartite system, according to the Treasury.
Ex-Capita director back
The former director of Capita Insurance Distribution Ian Meyer has confirmed plans to re-enter the market with a new personal lines start-up.
KPMG pair at First City
KPMG's David Costley-Wood and Michael Walker have been appointed as administrators for First City Insurance Group and its subsidiary First City Partnership.
Research puts Allianz top
Research conducted by Towergate Risk Solutions has put Allianz as the top performing key insurer servicing its broking operations.
Aviva trains sights on specialty lines
Aviva's new chief underwriting officer Axel Schmidt has revealed a wide-ranging plan to broaden its risk appetite by concentrating on areas it is currently under strength in, including local authority insurance.
KGM offers motor hope
Last week, the British Insurance Brokers' Association conference saw the great and good of the UK general insurance market descend on the Excel Centre in London's Docklands to network, socialise and swap ideas about where they see the market going.
Allianz product hits Power Place
Allianz's commercial combined product for SME business is to be added to the Power Place offering after the insurer joined the online marketplace panel.
FOS blames claims management firms for rise in PPI complaints
The Financial Ombudsman Service has raised concerns over claims management companies taking advantage of problems in the payment protection insurance market to bring often spurious complaints.
Three leave Powell for Butterworth Spengler
Another director and three account executives have left Powell Insurance Brokers, the Liverpool-based Oval broker.
Insurance Charities launches Big Balloon Day
The Insurance Charities has launched a fundraising initiative aimed at the insurance industry. The Big Balloon Day scheme aims to raise awareness and funds for by organising events using branded balloons creatively.
Heath Lambert combines
Heath Lambert has combined its commercial affinity and small business division with its personal lines unit, Heath Lambert Insurance Services, aiming to double its size by 2012.
Go Compare adds 82
Comparison site Go Compare has added 82 new insurance brands to its panels in the last year.
Six underwriters join NIG
NIG has attracted six new area underwriters.
London P&I club surplus
The London P&I Club has reported a financial year surplus of $25.9m (£17.9m) for the year ended 20 February 2010.
IIWG future in doubt as ABI looks to pick up leadership
The Association of British Insurers is expected to take up the mantle from the Insurance Industry Working Group, after the change of government threw its future into question.
Towergate boss keen on flood pool plan
Towergate executive chairman Peter Cullum has called on the new government to provide underwriting capacity for properties built on flood plains.
Broker channel promotion
The British Insurance Brokers' Association has called on other insurers to promote their broker distribution channel, following Aviva's successful advertising campaign.
Zurich in 12-month review
Zurich is to begin a 12-month review of its mid-corporate offering, beginning this summer.
Underwriting coalition
Markerstudy and Zenith have put together an underwriting coalition under group underwriting director Gary Humphreys.
Broking sector "remarkable"
The insurance broking sector has performed at a "remarkable" level in the midst of economic turmoil by tackling cost bases to protect profit margins, a market analyst told panel members at a fringe event.
Oak ahead of GWP schedule
Oak Underwriting is on course to control £30m gross written premium, one year ahead of its 2011 target.
Marsh integrates HSBC and targets SMEs
Marsh will push for "aggressive growth" across its three regional networks after the integration of HSBC's networks, according to Julie Page, head of its commercial practice.
Primary's Pitt joins NIG
Former Primary commercial director Richard Pitt has resurfaced working with Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance subsidiary NIG. Mr Pitt left Primary in November 2008 after 30 months.
Evolution online deals
Evolution Underwriting Group has launched an initiative offering exclusive deals on a range of online products from Cardinus Risk Management.
Biba to lobby coalition
The British Insurance Brokers' Association is set to launch a major lobbying campaign to promote the role of the broker to the Liberal-Conservative coalition government.
Arista to give MGA advice
Arista is hoping to cash in on regional brokers' interest in the managing general agent model as intermediaries seek ways of improving the service they receive from insurers.
Allianz commercial boss attacks MGAs on trust
Allianz commercial general manager Chris Hanks has slammed managing general agents for failing to "inspire trust and confidence among customers".
CFC targeting micro-SME market in the UK
CFC Underwriting is targeting companies in the micro-SME space as part of a plan to broaden its UK offering.
Sterling responds to brokers on products
Sterling Insurance is to relaunch its office and property owners products after analysing findings from its latest annual survey of 250 brokers.
Comment - Professionalism: Do the right thing
Roger Flaxman argues passionately about the fundamentals of insurance and questions the apparent reluctance in some parts of the industry to not pay claims.
Comment - Motor Fraud: The right result
Operation Genarch finally came to a conclusion last month after four years. Mihir Pandya details the investigation strategy, the challenges faced and lessons learnt.
View from the top: Positive and purposeful
It's always good to get an opportunity to see familiar and new faces, and the British Insurance Brokers' Association conference never lets you down. The number of brokers attending was again very strong and the networking opportunities were second to…
Postbox: Educate your customer
The recent suspension of flights caused by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland has caused much inconvenience and frustration for travellers. Regrettably, this frustration has been exacerbated by inexpert advice to travellers about how they may recover…
Insurance buyers - Mactavish report: There may be trouble ahead
The recent Mactavish report had some severe criticisms for the commercial insurance sector. Sam Barrett reports on the warnings it contained.
Motor - Provisional drivers: Practice makes perfect
Rachel Gordon reports on the growing trend for motor insurers to offer cover to drivers holding a provisional licence.
Motor - Safety developments: Safety first and last
Thatcham is busy testing a range of new technologies that could reduce accident rates. Leigh Jackson takes a closer look at them.
Solvency II - P&I Clubs: No going back
P&I clubs depend on their ability to call on members for additional cash. Alistair Groom asks whether Solvency II will increase the likelihood of any supplementary summons.
Legal update - referral fees: Simple complexity
Lord Justice Jackson views referral fees as "offensive and wrong in principle" but Helen Withers argues that an outright ban may generate more losers than winners.
Legal update - Mandatory mediation: Working together
With Italy making mediation mandatory before a civil or commercial dispute can go to court, Michael Dawson looks at whether the UK will follow suit.
Law report: Common-sense approach over professional negligence
Mason v Richard Freeman & Co (Court of Appeal — 25 March 2010)
Law report: Decision in Land of Leather allergy case favourable to insurers
Horwood and others v Land of Leather (in administration), Zurich Insurance and others (Queen's Bench Division — 18 March 2010)
Law report: Injunction granted pending compliance with an earlier judgment
Mentmore Towers and others v Packman Lucas (Queen's Bench Division — Technology and Construction Court — 16 March 2010)
Career development & CSR news: Centor tops new UK ranking of best small workplaces
Centor has been crowned winner of the first ever Best Small Workplaces award for organisations with fewer than 75 employees.
Carrer development & CSR news: Lloyd's and syndicates extend support for Chinese school
Lloyd's has donated a further £50 000 towards the development of a primary school in the remote Chinese province of Yunnan. The funding from Lloyd's China and its syndicates will enable 120 extra students to attend the school following construction of a…
Career development & CSR news: Andy is Key for Leeds
Andy Key of Leeds Carnegie has been named QBE director of rugby of the season at the Guinness premiership awards in London.
Career development & CSR news: M&S and NFU top customer service awards
Consumer Intelligence has launched an awards event for the motor and home insurance sectors aimed at improving the customer offering.
Legal update - residential care: A duty of care
The Department of Health consultation on charging for residential care, which recently closed, has again raised the issue of who should pick up the tab for residential care in personal injury compensation cases. Sallie Harrington and Paul Stephens…
Lockton's Brown triumphs
Karen Brown of Lockton International has been named as the winner of the inaugural individual chartered broking award by the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Looking Back 50 years: British wives dd to family income
Some time ago in the Insurance Forum, when quoting statistics and comments about women in the US who have added to the family income by taking part-time or full-time employment, I said that the position in this country would probably be broadly similar.
Looking back 30 years: Cricket bucks sports club claims trend
Some insurers have stopped writing personal accident business for sports clubs, in view of poor claims experience.
Looking Back 10 years: Government to centralise insurance
The government wants to set up a single standard insurance package for MPs and their staff in a move to replace the existing antiquated system.
Looking Back 5 years: Endsleigh to monitor Man Utd unrest
Broker Endsleigh said it was monitoring unrest at affinity partner Manchester United, after rebel fans' groups threatened to disrupt the club's commercial relationships.
Penny Black's insurance week
Keeping a low profile at last week's British Insurance Brokers' Association conference, Penny did manage to sneak into a conference session chaired by the body's technical services chief Peter Staddon.
LV loses out to Fortis over multi-million pound affinity contract
Fortis has been selected over LV to become the insurance partner of recently rebranded charity Age UK, in a multi-million pound deal.
Lloyd’s insurer closes in on KGM acquisition as it looks to diversify book
The largest privately owned Lloyd's insurer Canopius has emerged as a leading contender to acquire up-for-sale motor underwriter KGM.