Articles by Carolina Parra-Serrano
SME confidence in recovery doubles as perceived risk falls
Business confidence that the economic climate will improve this financial quarter has almost doubled to 38% up from 20% last quarter; while the perceived level of business risk faced by SMEs has fallen from 44.55 to 43.41 points, Zurich’s SME Risk Index…
Drivestyle Insurance Holdings hires CEO from Allianz
Telematics insurer Drivestyle Insurance Holdings has hired Andrew Bennett, former broker sales manager at Allianz, as chief executive officer.
Former Barbon board member joins Let Alliance
John Boyle, ex-managing director of Home Let and board member of Barbon Insurance has joined Let Alliance as executive advisor to the board and senior management team.
Reinsurers underwriting gains offset by unrealised losses
A newly-published report shows reinsurers’ underwriting gains in H1 2013 were offset by unrealised investment losses.
QBE European GWP up 15% to $3.1bn after Brit acquisition
QBE Europe has reported a 15% rise in gross written premium to $3.1bn (£1.98bn) for the first half of 2013 (H1 2012: $2.7bn) but a 40% fall in insurance profit to $105m (H1 2012: $175m).
90% of insurance staff proud to work in the sector
Research by recruitment firm Randstad has revealed that 90% of insurance professionals are proud to work in the industry.
Ecclesiastical to focus on investment growth
Ecclesiastical is set to grow its investment arm on the back of its improved half year results.
Banks in £1.3bn insurance mis-selling pay-out scheme
The Financial Conduct Authority has reached an agreement with Card Protection Plan Limited and 13 high street banks and credit card issuers that will pave the way for redress to be paid to customers who were mis-sold CPP’s card protection and identity…
Ecclesiastical records sub-100% COR despite GWP reduction
Ecclesiastical has achieved a 95.6% UK combined operating ratio for the first half of the year(H1 2012: 109.9%).
VIG completes integration of former QBE Macedonia
The former QBE Macedonia firm has completed its integration into the Vienna Insurance Group and was renamed as Akcionersko Društvo za Osiguruvanje i Reosiguruvanje Makedonija Skopje.
Prisoners paid to gather insurance details
Prisoners are being paid to gather insurance details and other other personal details as part of market research for insurance companies, the BBC has reported.
Ascent launches SME general liability extension
Managing general agent Ascent Underwriting, which specialises in emerging risks, has launched a general liability coverage extension to further enhance the cover provided to small and mid-market business clients.
Plumeri joins investment firm KKR
Former Willis Group chief executive and chairman Joseph Plumeri has been appointed senior advisor at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP.
SGI Law acquires Challinors’ PI portfolio
Liverpool-based SGI Legal has acquired the personal injury caseload of Midlands-based firm Challinors.
Three men plead guilty to ‘crash for cash’ £150k fraud
Three friends from Liverpool have admitted deliberately causing a crash between a coach and a car on a Manchester motorway in a bid to make a fraudulent claim for personal injuries.
QBE European GWP up 15% to $3.1bn after Brit acquisition
QBE Europe has reported a 15% rise in gross written premium to $3.1bn (£1.98bn) for the first half of 2013 (H1 2012: $2.7bn) but a 40% fall in insurance profit to $105m (H1 2012: $175m).
Woman pleads guilty to 12 counts of fraud totalling £50k
A woman who submitted 12 identical claims to 11 insurers for cash, electronic and designer items in an attempt to gain £50 000 from bogus insurance claims has pleaded guilty.
NAB calls for investigation into written-off vehicles
The National Association of Bodyshops is urging the Competition Commission to undertake further investigations into vehicles that have been written-off following claims that their number has increased.
Equinox Global bolsters Hamburg & New York units
Equinox Global has named Dagmar Böhning as underwriting manager at Equinox Global in Hamburg, Germany and Joe McNamara as vice president of credit and political risk in New York.
Smith Greenfield joins Pink Insurance panel
Smith Greenfield has been appointed as the specialist provider of higher value home and contents insurance to the General Insurance panel of mortgage and insurance network Pink.
Equinox Global strengthens international team
Equinox Global has appointed Joe McNamara as vice president of credit and political risk in New York and Dagmar Böhning as underwriting manager, at Equinox Global in Hamburg, Germany.
Flood Re unlikely to provide long-term solution, researchers say
The Flood Re scheme is unlikely to work for the long-term as it fails to take into account the flood risk increase that climate change poses, the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the…
ABI backs Home Office calls for regulation of private investigators
The Association of British Insurers has thrown its weight behind a Home Office initiative that intends to bring about the regulation of the private investigation industry.
Lark acquires HMT Insurance Brokers
Nearly a year after its management buyout from Groupama, the Lark Group has acquired Surrey-based HMT Insurance Brokers from its founder Howard Thompson.