Aggregators
Digital Bar Quarterly: Chasing pack strive to overtake Aviva in scramble for digital services, with Admiral and More Than leading the way
In the first of a new quarterly column Altus Consulting insurance director Mark Andrews dissects the data from its Digital Bar to highlight the lack of uptake of data enrichment to enable quick quote for direct customers, with many journeys still…
Q&A: Bill Pieroni, Acord
Bill Pieroni, CEO of global standards setting body Acord, discusses the findings of its research into UK personal lines websites and who is improving and why. He also tackles how the Covid-19 pandemic will change the market, reflects on his achievements…
Esure CEO says PCWs remain key to ambition to be UK's pre-eminent digital insurer
Price comparison websites remain integral to Esure’s plans to be the UK’s “pre-eminent digital insurer” despite fears their market share could shrink after regulatory intervention, CEO David McMillan told Post.
Comparison sites’ growth fortunes mixed in pandemic year
Comparison sites had mixed fortunes in terms of growth in 2020, as a third-quarter bounce-back in car insurance sales offset some, but not all, of the initial impact of Covid-19.
Aviva confirms £84m Covid hit as commercial lines book surpasses £2bn
Aviva has posted a combined operating ratio of 98.5% for its UK general insurance business in 2020, reporting growth across commercial lines and progress on its pledge to slash its available personal lines products by 80%.
Worsening outlook for UK non-life insurers, says Fitch
Fitch Ratings has a worsening outlook for the UK non-life company sector, Graham Coutts, senior director, head of EMEA reinsurance has confirmed with market combined ratios for motor and home likely to be above 100% in 2021.
For the Record: Aviva rationalises office space, RSA deal gets greenlight, Miller enters HNW and Corant Global is born
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Admiral to pocket £450m for comparison subsidiary despite claiming it had 'no plans' to sell Penguin Portals
Admiral Group has reached an agreement with the owner of Uswitch and Zoopla for the sale of price comparison subsidiary Penguin Portals Group for over £500m.
Briefing: Keeping the Admiral ‘freight train’ on track - what lies ahead for CEO Milena Mondini de Focatiis
In Milena Mondini de Focatiis Admiral has its first CEO who was not involved with the launch of the business in 1993.
Kitsune closure shows scale and niche challenges for MGAs
Brightside’s decision to put car and van managing general agent Kitsune into run-off has reinforced the need for volume and specialism, according to experts who warned that entering the market now would not be for the faint-hearted.
Briefing: Media owner could signal bright Future for Go Compare
This week media group Future had offer terms accepted to buy Go Compare parent Goco. Post content director Jonathan Swift looks at how the deal could help reposition the aggregator away from expensive advertising, to a more customer-centric approach…
Q&A: Louise O'Shea, Confused
Louise O'Shea, CEO of Confused, spoke to Post about the comparison site's recent profits, its growth ambitions and what the FCA's pricing proposals will mean for consumers.
Briefing: "Alexa, do voice assistants have a future in insurance?"
As Confused launches an Alexa Skill that allows customers to get quotes from their Amazon Echo, Post content director Jonathan Swift asks other insurers about their experience of voice assistant technology to see if it is merely a gimmick - or has a…
Briefing: Compare the Market fine a fitting end to a sorry chapter
“Ridiculous”, “harmful”, “anti-competitive”. These were the words used by Money Supermarket managing director of financial services Graham Donoghue to describe wide ‘most favoured nation’ clauses during a Competition Commission hearing back in 2013.
I-Wonder rolls out cycle comparison with motorbike to follow
I-Wonder has launched a bicycle insurance comparison site and is planning to enter the motorcycle market at the start of 2021, Post can reveal.
Compare the Market fined £17.9m by competition watchdog
Compare the Market has been fined £17.9m for its use of most favoured nation clauses.
Analysis: FCA takes the ‘nuclear option’ on dual pricing
In September, the Financial Conduct Authority published its long-awaited final report on pricing practices in the home and motor insurance markets, putting forward a package of measures that its interim CEO described as “probably the most radical shake…
Analysis: Price comparison websites warned of shrinking demand after dual pricing ban
Next year’s dual pricing ban will force price comparison websites to adapt if they are to stay relevant, experts have warned.
CMA warns of potential for market detriment in Ardonagh-Bennetts buy
The Competition and Markets Authority has found that Ardonagh’s purchase of Bennetts could lead to “higher prices, less choice and worse services for motorcyclists in the UK”.
Analysis: Changing tactics - The strategy behind Aviva's aggregator push
In August, Aviva announced that it was aiming to roll out a motor insurance product under its main brand on price comparison websites this autumn.
I-Wonder stakes claim for industry first with Sorn site
I-Wonder has partnered with Go Compare for the launch of a Sorn insurance comparison service.
Aviva planning aggregator motor roll out after Confused pilot
Aviva is targeting this autumn for the next stage of its move onto aggregators after a trial with Confused, Colm Holmes, Aviva CEO of general insurance, told Post.
Direct Line open to acquisitions and partnerships: CFO Tim Harris
Direct Line Group remains open to inorganic growth from acquisitions and partnerships despite the Covid-19 impact, DLG chief financial officer Tim Harris has confirmed.
Alex Williams promoted to MD at i-Wonder
Alex Williams has been appointed at the first managing director of technology firm i-Wonder.