Post - 2010-06-10
Articles in this issue
Post Magazine - 10 June 2010
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital interactive e-book.
Postscript - 30 years ago: Agreement reached in pay dispute
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 30 years ago reveals.
Postscript - 10 years ago: Rule book gets cautious welcome
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 10 years ago reveals.
Postscript - Five years ago: Marsh may sell broking operations
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from five years ago reveals.
Penny Black's insurance week
Penny was interested to read about the fiery Prudential shareholder meeting on Monday this week, following its failed bid for Asia's AIA.
Direct Group expands
Direct Group has expanded its travel claims operation with a new partnership with First Assist Insurance Services.
Charity trustee warning
While it may appear that working for a charitable cause poses no threat to an individual or their personal wealth, charity trustees do in fact put their own financial security on the line when taking on such positions, RSA has warned.
Bluefin buys broker
Bluefin has acquired St Albans-based Gilbert Business Insurance Brokers.
Middle to refocus Aviva's broker relationships
Aviva has recruited Axa's commercial managing director to the new role of strategic partnerships director, straddling both the life and general insurance sectors.
Law firm's research critical of regulator authorisations
The Financial Services Authority has defended its approach to authorisation after research revealed a 71% time increase for companies to gain regulatory approval.
Top five Post stories
The five most popular stories at postonline.co.uk over the past seven days were:
Macquarie appointment
The appointment of advisory firm Macquarie for the sale of Quinn Insurance was set to be finalised as Post went to press on Tuesday.
MMA opens in Newcastle
Broker insurer MMA has opened the doors to a regional office in Newcastle, and announced the local team for the North-east region.
Cooper Gay closer to IPO after US deal
A successful merger of Cooper Gay and Swett & Crawford to create a $3.5bn (£2.4bn) independent broking giant would give the combined entity the critical mass to become a decent sized public company it has been claimed.
Zurich executive team receives a makeover
Zurich UK general insurance chief executive Stephen Lewis has appointed new claims, finance and marketing chiefs to the insurer's executive team.
IAG UK to lose 5% of broker partners in recovery plan
IAG UK's largest business Equity Red Star is set to shed around 175 of its broker partners and withdraw from the majority of its aggregated business, as it plans its recovery from a "significant deterioration" in its claims experience.
Editor's comment: The man in the Middle
How deeply Axa feels the departure of Ant Middle will be monitored intently over the coming months.
Money Supermarket steps up fraud battle
Price comparison giant Money Supermarket is rolling out a revamped home insurance website, which includes improved measures to combat fraud.
Stevens joins Irwin in 'meeting of minds'
Rehabilitation champion and claimant lawyer Amanda Stevens has left law firm Charles Russell after 13 years to join Irwin Mitchell, in a move that could be viewed as a meeting of minds.
Lloyd's duo greenlighted
Capita Managing Agency and Chubb Insurance have been granted approval to operate new vehicles within the Lloyd's market.
Website Review: Direct Line
In the first of a new series for Post, web performance monitoring specialist Gomez runs the gauntlet over Direct Line's website to see how it performed in a number of key areas and stands up against some of its rivals.
Heppel appointment
RFIB has appointed Toby Heppel to the role of divisional director in the political, credit and financial risks team.
Jubilee's Jackson quits
Jubilee life syndicate 779's active underwriter Brian Jackson has resigned from the company.
NIG unveils product
Insurer NIG has unveiled a new professionals product as part of a revamp of its network broker package products.
Plum relocates
Plum Underwriting has announced a raft of changes to the business as part of its aggressive growth plans, first announced in March.
Assurex adds three firms
Assurex Global, the international network of independent insurance brokers, has added three new brokers to its international partnership ranks: Griffiths & Armour and Miller Insurance Services, both of the UK, and Associated Insurance Consultants of the…
Moorhouse eyes bargains, ditches organic-only plan
Broking group Moorhouse has made a u-turn on its traditional organic growth strategy and is looking to acquire an insurance broker with up to £5m gross written premium.
Junction vows to buck motor growth trend
BGL subsidiary Junction has predicted a 25% growth in the sale of new motor policies in the next year, despite what analysts describe as a "static market".
Home & Legacy joins Cobra's mid and HNW insurance panel
The Cobra Network has recruited Home & Legacy to provide additional mid and high net worth expertise to its insurance panel.
BP Marsh boss hints Hyperion may delay flotation
Specialist private equity firm BP Marsh and Company, a key backer of broking and insurance group Hyperion, has said it would not be surprised to see the company delay its plans to float in 2012.
Zoom 360 photo service
Zoom 360 has launched a nationwide service to insurers, offering elevated mast photography utilising vehicle-mounted masts.
LV signs ISO contract
Insurance Services Office, the provider of personal injury claims evaluation solutions and services, has confirmed LV has signed a contract to use its claims outcome advisor.
Argo appoints Roberts
Argo International, the specialist Lloyd's insurer and subsidiary of Argo Group International Holdings, has appointed Ruth Roberts as head of claims.
Call for travel database after fraudster is jailed
The travel insurance market needs a database similar to those in other markets in order to prevent travel insurance fraud.
Gladwell joins to lead Crawford Home
Crawford & Company has named Aviva operations director Greg Gladwell to lead its new end-to-end personal lines service Crawford Home.
ILAA poised for official launch next month
The founding members of the Independent Loss Adjusters Association are poised to officially launch the new trade association next month.
Interview - Nicola Harvey: Embracing new horizons
Incoming Airmic chairman Nicola Harvey talks to Lynn Rouse about relishing career challenges, working with passionate people and her plans to deal proactively with emerging risks.
View from the top: Training is the key
The last couple of years have been tough, and although some industries are now picking up, the insurance industry is having to fight hard to take advantage of the upturn, as businesses are still reluctant to invest as much as they should do in…
Letter to the editor: Technology response will prove interesting
I read with great interest the article 'Safety first and last' in Post recently.
Equity World Cup competition - week one: Score an Ipad!
Here's a World Cup campaign everyone can support — we've got some great prizes, so enter our competition for a chance to win.
Spotlight on talent: The youth of today
A recent Chartered Insurance Institute report was deeply critical of the insurance industry's efforts at recruiting the next generation. Rachel Gordon examines whether effective engagement is really that bad.
Spotlight on talent: Get up and go
The percentage of students choosing insurance as a contender profession has recently risen but insurance companies must capitalise on the opportunities this presents, argues Caspar Bartington.
Spotlight on talent: The price of professionalism
Is the insurance industry talking the talk but not walking the walk when it comes to training staff? Veronica Cowan asks why investment in professionalism is still frequently questioned on cost.
Regional review - Manchester: The Mancunian way
Manchester is a diverse city, full of character and currently undergoing something of a rebirth. Daniel Dunkley visits the city and finds a thriving insurance market.
Corporate risks - pension de-risking: An old age problem
Businesses are becoming increasingly strained by the legacies of defined benefit schemes. Amy Ellis reports on the issue of pensions de-risking and looks at the options available.
Career development & CSR news: Row, row, row your boat... across the Channel for charity
A team from three Lloyd's market companies have combined forces to undertake the charity challenge of rowing the 21 miles across the English Channel to France in a six-person Thames cutter boat, aiming to beat the existing world record time of two hours…
Career Development & CSR news: National Flood School BDMA accreditation
The National Flood School has been appointed a licensed training centre by the British Damage Management Association.
Career development & CSR news: XL volunteering day a worldwide success
More than 300 London-based staff and a total of 2000 employees worldwide took part in XL Insurance's fifth annual Global Day of Giving at the end of last month.
Brit sponsorship hits a six
Brit Insurance has signed a four-year partnership with Chance to Shine, the grassroots sports development programme run by The Cricket Foundation.
CCV acquires again
Cullum Capital Ventures has acquired Hertfordshire-based brokers Humbergrove and Humbergrove UK.
Brokers unite in call for new code of conduct for covenant breaches
A British Insurance Brokers’ Association regional head has called for a new code of conduct to help reduce the legal bill and inconvenience faced by intermediaries defending themselves against former staff who break their restrictive covenants.
DoH to meet with industry over insurance for independent midwives
The Department of Health is set to meet with industry figures next week to discuss the provision of insurance for independent midwives, Post has learnt.
Equity Word Cup competition - week one: Insurer in play
John Josiah, managing director and active underwriter, Equity Red Star.
Equity World Cup competition - week one: Broker on the ball
Adrian Parry, Renew Insurance.