Post - 2011-01-20
Articles in this issue
WEF: insurers role 'vital' for global risk
Insurers have a critical role to play in tackling major global risks, including economic disparity and global governance failures, according to the Word Economic Forum.
Postbox: Penalties still too low for uninsured drivers
The changes outlined last week to reduce uninsured driving are helpful — but the penalties are still far too low, both financially and in terms of loss of facility.
News analysis - OFT: Competition investigation ends in a 'damp squib'
Following a tip off from insurer RSA, the Office of Fair Trading looked into whether an Experian data analysis tool could create the potential for price fixing. Mairi MacDonald reports on the results of the lengthy investigation.
View from the top: An historically good idea
With the private motor market effectively commoditised, now the spotlight for personal lines insurers is on the perceived El Dorado of the online SME market. We can be sure that a VW Golf that is built in Germany, China or Indonesia is of virtually…
Penny Black's insurance week
Maggie Craig is clearly considered a safe pair of hands by her colleagues at the Association of British Insurers, as she is currently seven months into her second tenure as acting director general.
Career development & CSR: Ask the expert
Do you have any advice for employers as to how to arrive at the right offer to entice people on board?
Biba conference adds some Sugar
Aon president and chief executive Greg Case and businessman and TV star Lord Alan Sugar are to top the bill at this year's British Insurance Brokers' Association conference.
Scottish courts see tenfold rise in pleural plaque cases
New pleural plaques cases brought in front of the Scottish courts increased almost tenfold last year, government statistics have shown.
Speculation rife over Zurich's Quinn bid
Zurich has refused to comment on market speculation following reports that the Swiss insurer is the favourite to take Quinn Insurance out of administration.
Career development & CSR: Service providers raise £10k
Two legal services providers have raised £10 000 for the Brain and Spinal Injury Centre, which provides counselling, information and support services to patients and their families following catastrophic injuries of this type.
Ex-HBOS GI CEO Posner takes new chair role
Former Halifax Bank of Scotland General Insurance chief executive Howard Posner has taken up the newly-created position of chairman at claims management firm LAS.
Damage management - Winter freeze: Preparing for problems in the frozen pipeline
With property claims surging due to the recent cold snap, Rachel Gordon looks into the specific challenges thrown up by freezing conditions for those tasked with managing the damage.
Subsidence - Tree preservation orders: Addressing the root cause
Legislation for tree preservation orders will be changing in the coming year. Keiron Hart examines what these changes mean in practical terms, and whether some opportunities have been lost.
Law report: Defendant medical evidence finds favour in whiplash case
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
RSA joins forces with WWF to call for sustainable drainage
RSA has called for an increase in sustainable urban drainage systems to combat the growing effects of climate change.
Staysure to double headcount in push
Over-50s insurance provider Staysure plans to more than quadruple the premium of its newly launched motor and home products to £5m and double its headcount to 90.
North of the Border: Update on Pleural Plaques and Forum Shopping
The eagerly awaited decision of Scotland's Inner House of the Court of Session, in the judicial review of the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 is anticipated later this month.
Pru Health to overhaul product offering
Pru Health is set to overhaul its product offering following its purchase of rival firm Standard Life Healthcare UK.
Comment - Brokers & claims: Claims expertise - the future of broking?
2011 is shaping up to be tough for brokers. John Greenway argues claims expertise is an area ripe for differentiation and the best way to solidify client relationships.
Commentary - Winter freeze: Burst pipe problems
The industry is currently paying out an estimated £7m a day over burst pipe claims. Graeme Fitzpatrick asks if insurers are doing enough to help customers prevent them.
Postscript - 30 years ago: Advertising motion debate lost
Looking back 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.
RSA boasts of UK first with scoping innovation
RSA has agreed a deal with technology firm Innovation Group to become the first UK insurer to adopt its property claims scoping software.
Career development & CSR - IRM: qualification will help avoid repeat of economic upheaval
The Institute of Risk Management has said its new practical international qualification will support the insurance and banking sectors in avoiding a repeat of the economic upheaval of the past three years.
Taxation - IPT changes: A taxing issue across Europe
2011 brings with it many changes to insurance premium tax across Europe and a big headache for insurers operating locally in different countries or across multiple European territories. Edward Murray explains why it is crucial for insurers to stay on top…
Groupama u-turn over Liverpool office closure
Groupama is set to transfer the Liverpool and Glasgow-based commercial motor accounts of broker Choice Quote to its sister business Bollington, as part of a restructure of its GUK Broking Services arm.
CHOs must co-operate more with insurers or risk collapse
Some credit hire organisations will have to become more co-operative with insurers if they are to avoid collapse, a legal expert has warned.
Postscript - 15 years ago: East coast floods see death toll rise
Looking back through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 15 years ago reveals.
Aspen seals second underwriting deal
Managing general agent Aspen Risk Management has unveiled plans to open new offices in the North of England and Scotland during 2011.
WNS eyes top three property repair place
WNS Assistance has pledged to land a place among the top-three property repair firms within the next 18 months, after confirming its plans to enter the sector.
Biba progress
The British Insurers Brokers' Association has met with the cabinet office to discuss business resilience ahead of a formal consultation document to take place in March.
Legal update - Litigants in person: Does representing yourself give you an advantage in court?
Judges may often appear more lenient on claims brought by litigants in person. However, Nick Weston reports on a recent case that shows procedural latitude does not prevent substantive issue scrutiny.
Postbox: Conditions are right for new start-ups
We support the view that market conditions suit the emergence of new start-ups of both insurers and brokers
Suncorp claims hit 10 000
Suncorp expects to have eroded between A$220m (£137m) and A$240m of retained costs under its aggregate reinsurance programme as a result of the Australian floods, as well as other natural hazard events during 2010.
Editor's comment: A whimper not a bang
Given that last week saw the government's transport select committee reconvene to discuss the thorny issue of rising motor premiums, it was somewhat bad timing — as far as the industry is concerned — that the Office of Fair Trading also emerged with…
Law report: Catastrophic claim dismissed due to defendant driver care
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Interview - Sarah Lyons: What next for Giles?
Having joined the industry as a school leaver, Sarah Lyons is now group MD of Giles. She explains to Mairi MacDonald why growth, rather than exit plans, remains top of her agenda.
Cost cutting could affect Jackson proposals
The government's drive to cut public spending could affect its decision to implement Lord Justice Jackson's civil litigation proposals, a pressure group has stated.
Career development & CSR: Allianz gains CII chartered status accolade
Allianz Commercial has been granted chartered status for its commitment to ethical conduct and professionalism by the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Risk modelling - Underwriter responsibility: Model behaviour
Models have quickly become a valued tool for underwriters. Matthew Washington examines how the advent of Solvency II could really make them fly.
Crossrail signs nine-year no-break deal with Zurich, Ace and Swiss Re
The £15.9bn Crossrail construction project has become the first of its kind to negotiate a nine-year insurance policy to be placed in the global insurance market without a break clause.
Law report: Proposal to settle was time limited so could not be a Part 36 offer
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Postscript - Five years ago: EL proposal for legal prostitutes
Looking back 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.
Post Magazine – 20 January 2011
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
People moves - 20 January 2011
A round-up of people moves and new appointments in the industry, as featured in the January 20 2011 edition of Post.