Post - 2010-12-02
Articles in this issue
Post Magazine – 02 December 2010
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Allianz on track to eclipse £30m target
Allianz Commercial is expanding its cross-border insurance offering as part of a relaunch of its UK mid-corporate operation.
RSA hunts for new UK personal lines MD
RSA is on the lookout for a new managing director of UK personal lines, following the appointment of Mike Holliday-Williams as CEO of RSA Scandinavia.
Ex-Irish PM slams tax rise demands
A former Irish Prime Minister has said that forcing Ireland to raise corporation tax from 12.5% would have been "counter-intuitive" of countries involved in bailing out the troubled economy.
Broking review of the year: A breakdown in momentum
2010 was a fairly low key year for the broking market, as the sector kept a low profile during the financial turmoil. Daniel Dunkley reports on the opportunities that were taken up and deals made.
Editor's comment: A country divided?
Who knows whether it is because the Conservatives are back in power — albeit in a coalition government — but it appears that individuals in the general insurance sector are suddenly talking up a North-South divide again.
Insurance landscape - Household past: Stiff competition
A perception exists that household claims lag behind motor claims in terms of innovation and new entrants are challenging the traditional loss adjusting model. Stephanie Denton examines the impact of this on the market.
Postscript - 10 years ago: Early black box plans challenged
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.
Defra unveils 'payment for outcomes' flood scheme
Dealing with flood management in the "narrow sense of government funding" is "unimaginative and ineffective", according to the minister charged with its responsibility.
Career path & CSR: The value of mentoring
With the economy still teetering on the edge between recession and recovery, the advice and support that mentors can give to aspiring business leaders and managers can help shape immediate business prospects and future growth. Business leaders have a…
Interview - Bart de Smet: Return to fitness
Despite being one of the most high-profile casualties of the financial crisis, Ageas is now focusing on the future rather than the past. Jonathan Swift meets group CEO Bart De Smet to discuss its UK plans, acquisitions and why big is not necessarily…
Fusion adds D&O and engineering
Towergate-owned underwriter Fusion is poised for a move into directors' and officers' and engineering insurance sectors in 2011.
Postbox: H&S performance index useful for all
I was interested to read the article on a "sense of anticipation" from Zurich's David Smith where he commented on the lack of engagement with the Health & Safety Executive's H&S performance index
BGL: European aggregators on hitlist after French buy
BGL Group will look to buy more European aggregators if its purchase of Courtanet proves successful.
Legal review of the year: Less doing more
Consolidation among insurance law firms was the hot topic for 2010, as they try to meet insurers' demands. Veronica Cowan reports on an interesting year.
Postscript - 30 years ago: Las Vegas fire spawned huge claims
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.
Foreign interest in UK firms rose over 2010
Interest from overseas in UK financial services and insurance companies has improved this year after the credit crunch caused investment and merger and acquisition activities to slow in 2009.
Transactional risks - Solutions: Coming of age
Companies with reinvigorated balance sheets are displaying renewed appetite for mergers and acquisitions. John McNally and Tim Allen detail how evolving transactional risk insurance solutions mean the market can meet their needs.
Career path & CSR: Marsh strengthens relationship with RFU
Marsh is to support the Rugby Football Union's community rugby programme, after becoming its official insurance broker.
Insurance landscape - Household future: Leaping forward
Changes in the household claims market have been sluggish over the past 25 years. Max Dunworth looks at the significant upcoming developments that aim to revolutionise this sector.
View from the top: Staying ahead of the game
So, business plans have been approved and/or amended and 2011 looms ever closer. In today's market there is at least one certainty: it will be just as challenging to produce an underwriting profit next year as it has been in 2010.
RFIB sees 13% growth
Lloyd's broker RFIB has credited its 13% growth in turnover for the year ended 30 June 2010 to the performance of its marine and reinsurance divisions.
Market conditions behind MD's departure
Insurer QBE has cited a shift in the market as the reason behind its reshuffle that saw property managing director Bernard Mageean depart the firm last week.
A-Plan to continue branch investment after profit rise
Private-equity-backed high street broker A-Plan Holdings has insisted it will continue to invest in opening new branches where suitable opportunities exist.
Mortgage fraud - Regulation: Safe as houses?
Concern at the scale of professional negligence in the mortgage industry has prompted renewed focus on regulation. But will these efforts succeed in stamping out fraud, asks Jennifer Bates.
Career path & CSR: Oval awarded two-star rating
Oval has received an outstanding two-star classification from Investor in Customers, an independent award body that judges companies on their ability to place the customer at the heart of their business.
RSA looking for repair supplier
RSA has kicked off a tender process to find a repair supplier for its commercial property claims, Post has learnt.
Career path & CSR: Zurich director wins top Women in the City award
Zurich Insurance global underwriting technical director Jane Hayes has been named as winner of this year's insurance category at the Women in the City awards.
Brokers face North-South divide over M&A activity
Brokers in the 'resilient South' are standing their ground when it comes to getting the price they want for a sale, creating a divide between themselves and their northern counterparts in terms of acquisition availability, it has been claimed.
PCUK staff gain know-how to challenge suppliers
Staff at Property Consortium UK are to benefit from a new training programme that will explain how a building is put together, in order to make them better at handling claims.
Aviva returns to pay-as-you-drive market
Aviva has returned to the pay-as-you-drive insurance market, two years after it pulled its personal lines offering, with a launch targeting the haulage industry.
Penny Black's insurance week
Penny and her colleagues were out and about on the town last week with the NIG executive, apart from poor managing director Jon Greenwood who has been struck down with glandular fever.
Biba outlines 2011 manifesto
Regulation will top the agenda in 2011, as the British Insurance Brokers' Association prepares its annual manifesto for the new year.
Jubilee off the market as Ascot buys motor book
Jubilee group chief executive Andreas Loucaides has vowed that the Lloyd's underwriter is no longer for sale, despite Ascot Underwriting acquiring its commercial motor book.
Reid: Bluefin is moving away from 'macho' tag
Bluefin Insurance Services has said that the restructure of its operations, announced this week, is designed to help it develop a national strategy rather than facilitate branch closures.
Postscript - five years ago: Towergate to launch £50m VC arm
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.