Post - 2010-07-15

Articles in this issue

British Insurance Awards 2010: Investing in its people

With a quality product, new brand identity and associated advertising campaign, RIAS delivered impressive results last year and this is, above all, down to its staff. Liz McMahon explains how the over-50s insurance provider has kept its people at the…

British Insurance Awards 2010: Cracking commercial

This year's winner, Heath Lambert, is a broker that has taken significant strides to enhance its UK operations and client service in recent years culminating in victory at the British Insurance Awards 2010 writes Andrew Tjaardstra.

British Insurance Awards 2010: Unchartered waters

CFC Underwriting spotted an opportunity in the failing insurance pricing model of US nursing homes and rescued it from near collapse, attracting huge praise from the judges, writes Jonathan Swift.

British Insurance Awards 2010: Opening doors online

Since identifying a group of consumers in the non-standard household insurance arena who were not being provided for online, avantia has not only given access to these five million people but its success story has set an example for the rest of the…

Knowles joins in MMA management shake-up

Former general insurance boss of the Chartered Insurance Institute Peter Knowles has been appointed head of UK development at MMA following a management shake-up at the French-owned insurer.

HNW return for John Sims

Former Chubb Europe personal lines manager John Sims has returned to the high net worth market as a consultant with Sterling.

Aggregator set to prosper

Go Compare chief executive Hayley Parsons has claimed profits will double this year after the aggregator moved into the black for the first time since inception and repaid its loan facility early.

Allianz head urges SRA to take PI action

Allianz head of financial lines Mark Carver has accused the Solicitors Regulation Authority of "burying its head in the sand" over the growing problems associated with professional indemnity insurance for the legal sector.

Contract law in consultation

The Law Commission is considering amending insurance contract law to allow insurers to seek damages from fraudulent policyholders.

COO follows CEO out of Travelers UK

Travelers remained tight-lipped this week on the future of its UK management after it was hit by a second senior departure in less than a year when Tony Dilley stepped down as chief operating officer.

BMW in rehabilitation deal

Motor manufacturer BMW is poised to save up to £3m after signing up to a back-to-work scheme offered by XL Insurance and rehabilitation specialists IPRS.

Heath and BDML wait on Admiral

Admiral has signalled its intent to underwrite household products from 2011, in a move that is set to impact its current white label arrangements.

Editor's comment: In search of a CEO

The news that Travelers chief operating officer Tony Dilley has left the UK business this week raised questions again about how the hunt is going for a successor to Martin Hudson, the business' CEO who departed in October 2009.

Website Review: Confused

In the second of a new series for Post, web performance monitoring specialist Gomez runs the rule over Confused's website to see how it performs in a number of key areas and stands up against some of its rivals.

New regulator could result in Euro tied agent model

The increased focus on policyholders by the incoming regulator The Consumer Protection Agency could lead to a greater infiltration of the European tied agent model in the UK, according to Higos Insurance Services managing director Ian Gosden.

New broking powerhouse CEO outlines strategy

The long-winded title of the holding company formed following the merger between Cooper Gay and US broker Swett & Crawford will not be adopted by its subsidiaries, according to chief executive Toby Esser.

HSBC picks Questgates

Questgates has been appointed by HSBC Insurance UK as the solus provider of motor adjusting services for its run-off motor portfolio.

Five in at DWF

Peter Blake, Nick Connolly, James Manning, Dan Verow and Sophie Mourmouris have joined the London-based insurance team of DWF.

Chartis and investigators help convict HNW gang

A private investigation and surveillance firm instructed by Chartis has helped build a case against a gang jailed for committing a series of burglaries of high net worth properties across the North-west of England.

Legal expenses - SME: Risky business

With employment and contractual disputes on the up since the downturn, many businesses are in greater need of legal expenses insurance. Why, then, is demand and take-up by SMEs still low, asks Sam Barrett.

Career development & CSR News: CAB tee peg sponsorship

Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau has sponsored the tee pegs at an annual charity golf day. Local business people turned out on the day at Hartsbourne Golf club in Bushey, to raise more than £25 000 for the Breakaway charity.

Penny Black's insurance week

Last week RSA continued to celebrate its 300th anniversary with a bash on the Thames, which was attended by the great and the good of the firm from group CEO Andy Haste downwards.

British Insurance Awards 2010: Remarkable rise

Keeley Goding’s meteoric rise to lead Hiscox’s technical claims team is underpinned by a maturity beyond her years that has seen the quality of work by the department go from strength-to-strength, writes Leigh Jackson.

Handing over the reins

Building a protection operation with no legacy systems and using the latest e-business technology, Fortis has given control back to advisers and improved efficiency along the way. <BODY><p>Amy Ellis </p></BODY>reports.

Investing in its people

With a quality product, new brand identity and associated advertising campaign, RIAS delivered impressive results last year and this is, above all, down to its staff. <BODY><p>Liz McMahon </p></BODY>explains how the over-50s insurance provider has kept…

Cracking commercial

This year's winner, Heath Lambert, is a broker that has taken significant strides to enhance its UK operations and client service in recent years culminating in victory at the British Insurance Awards 2010 writes <BODY><p>Andrew Tjaardstra</p></BODY>.

Opening doors online

Since identifying a group of consumers in the non-standard household insurance arena who were not being provided for online, avantia has not only given access to these five million people but its success story has set an example for the rest of the…

making risk manageable

The recession has highlighted the need for firms to use their budgets more effectively. FM Global's Riskmark impressed judges with the way in which it improved risk assessment, writes <BODY><p>Daniel Dunkley</p></BODY>.

Unchartered waters

CFC Underwriting spotted an opportunity in the failing insurance pricing model of US nursing homes and rescued it from near collapse, attracting huge praise from the judges, writes <BODY><p>Jonathan Swift</p></BODY>.

leading with innovation

Fortis Insurance has boosted customer satisfaction after it reworked its claims handling process and introduced innovative new initiatives, writes <BODY><p>Jonathan Swift</p></BODY>.

co-operative champions

The Cockermouth floods of 2009 affected an entire community. With lessons learned from the 2005 Carlisle event, this time two firms coordinated the recovery effort with greatly improved results, writes <BODY><p>Stephanie Denton</p></BODY>

detecting real success

The efforts of just four dedicated Greater Manchester Police officers has succeeded in saving the industry £12m, reports <BODY><p>Lynn Rouse</p></BODY>.

costs down, service up

<BODY><p>Leigh Jackson </p></BODY>discovers how adhering to a mantra of repairing rather than replacing has led to improved customer satisfaction and retention, higher profits and some very happy insurers and brokers with improved loss ratios.

give the personal touch

Fortis UK's stringent customer service standards have led to a successful partnership with Age Concern Enterprises and were even critical in saving a customer's life reports <BODY><p>Daniel Dunkley</p></BODY>.

lust for marketing

<BODY><p>Emmanuel Kenning</p></BODY> looks at Swiftcover's energetic multi-media campaign fronted by legendary punk rocker Iggy Pop.

leaders in learning

RSA's training programme has brought marketing staff from all over the world together to network, learn and create a strong and coherent international brand, explains <BODY><p>Liz McMahon</p></BODY>.

Remarkable rise

Keeley Goding's meteoric rise to lead Hiscox's technical claims team is underpinned by a maturity beyond her years that has seen the quality of work by the department go from strength-to-strength, writes <BODY><p>Leigh Jackson</p></BODY>.

Corporate conscience

Marsh has revamped its CSR activities by instigating a centrally managed and integrated approach to charitable activities and environmental initiatives, explains <BODY><p>Amy Ellis</p></BODY>.

Life in the fast lane

Wesleyan Assurance Society's long history has not prevented the insurer from reviewing its offerings and launching innovative new products, writes <BODY><p>Mairi MacDonald</p></BODY>.

Top of the class

Allianz has made record profits, improved service and invested in staff despite the economic downturn, writes <BODY><p>Mairi MacDonald</p></BODY>.

sun never sets on west

MIB chief executive Ashton West has been a tireless leader of moves to embrace rehabilitation and tackle the twin issues of fraud and uninsured drivers, writes <BODY><p>Ant Gould</p></BODY>.

BE the best that you can

Professionalism is the key to a successful industry, <BODY><p>Ant Gould</p></BODY> tells the great and good at the BIA.

making their minds up

Judging the overwhelming number of award entries is a tough process but even an erupting Icelandic volcano couldn't stop the panel from picking the winners for this year's awards, as <BODY><p>Ant Gould</p></BODY> explains.

Every little bit helps

By engaging consumers with LivePerson's online chat functionality, RSA's More Th>n has successfully nudged up its conversion rate to boost sales, proving that 'little by little' really works. <BODY><p>Katherine Blackler</p></BODY> follows the journey.

Browse issues

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have an Insurance Post account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here