Articles by Chris Wheal
Direct Commercial launches motor claims app
Direct Commercial, which writes business on behalf of Ascot Underwriting Syndicate 1414 at Lloyd's, has developed a motor claims app to help policyholders report claims while on the move or from the scene of an incident.
Pool for PPOs splits insurers and reinsurers
Insurers and reinsurers are split over the idea of an industry pooling solution to deal with the size and duration of periodical payment orders, according to a straw poll conducted by actuary Towers Watson.
Bupa profits rise outside the UK
Private medical insurer Bupa has announced revenues up 6% to £8bn and an underlying surplus up 20% to £559m.
Munich Re promises 2012 turnaround
Munich Re has claimed it has made a good start to 2012 and is aiming for a profit of around €2.5bn after announcing 2011 profit was slashed to €712m (2010: €2,430) in what it called "an extremely difficult environment".
Biba's budget submission slates regulators
The British Insurance Brokers' Association has warned the Chancellor that the value of insurance "is being eroded through inappropriate, disproportionate and costly regulation".
EPG to open multi-lingual call centre
Lloyd's broker EPG Insurance Services is to open a multi-lingual customer services centre by the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London to handle business volume out of Europe.
No insurance, no fuel idea rubbished
The idea that uninsured motorists will be unable to buy fuel at petrol stations because number recognition cameras will check with the Motor Insurance Database and only open pumps for insured vehicles looks like being pure spin.
KTM bike insurance in aggregator deal
Specialist KTM Insurance Services, run by broker Express Insurance, has announced an exclusive six-month partnership with price comparison website The Bike Insurer.
Aon Benfield has new Middle East chief
Aon Benfield has recruited Willis Re regional director Ahmed Rajab, pictured, to be chief executive, Middle East & North Africa.
Education terrorism mutual promotes Gorringe from deputy to chairman
UM Association (Special Risks), a terrorism insurance mutual for universities, has named Edinburgh University finance director Jon Gorringe as chairman.
Gable reports UK ATE growth
Lichenstein-based AIM-registered insurer Gable Holdings has reported accelerated growth across its European territories with UK growth in after-the-event insurance and the launch of a commercial combined product.
Fitch says insurers to cope with Greek debt
Credit rating agency Fitch has said insurers will not be hit by the Greek debt swap as they have already written down their holdings in anticipation of the deal and would be able to cope with further losses on Greek sovereign bonds.
Flood insurance withdrawal could spark negligence claims against conveyancers
Professional indemnity insurers may face a barrage of claims from home buying advisers such as conveyancy lawyers and mortgage sellers when the ABI Statement of Principles on flood insurance ends.
Mapfre's new chairman predicts growth
Antonio Huertas has said the Spanish insurer expects to achieve revenues of more than €25,000m in 2012, equivalent to a 6% increase, in a year that will be "hard" and "demanding".
Quindell recruits CGU/NU IT merger expert
Acquisitive Quindell Portfolio has appointed the man who oversaw the GA/CGU/Norwich union IT integration, Dave Peffer, to bring together its recent purchases into a single service.
McNamee takes Chartis commercial role
Chartis has named Jacqueline McNamee as executive director, commercial lines UK, heading up the property, casualty, financial and speciality lines businesses, including aviation and marine.
Momentum to use RWA for compliance
Momentum, a newly appointed representative network for broker start-ups, has partnered with RWA Compliance Services to ensure regulatory compliance.
Geneva Association warns of 2011 repeat
More people will live in large urban areas and be hit by extreme events like those seen in 2011, the Geneva Association has warned.
Justice minister to act over PPI CMCs
The justice minister, Lord McNally, pictured, has agreed to meet consumer groups over on-going concerns about claims management firms ripping off customers mis-sold payment protection insurance.
Omega more than doubles losses
Struggling takeover target Omega's 2011 combined ratio hit 134%, and 2010 pre-tax losses more than doubled to $94.7m (2010: $42.9m).
Close to offer telematics premium finance
Close Premium Finance is to back AA Insurance's new telematics offering, AA Drivesafe, taking monthly direct debits for varying amounts depending on the insured's driving style.
Cuts at Ecclesiastical to focus on three sectors and boost operations performance
Ecclesiastical's UK boss Steve Wood, pictured, has implemented a three-prong reorganisation as part of a cost-cutting exercise that he claims will lead to an aggressive move on its chosen markets.
Lloyd's broker Paul Napier launches offshore financial services liability lines
Lloyd's broker Paul Napier has launched a suite of professional and financial lines products for the UK and international offshore financial services industry.
Ageas credit checks all motor applicants
Ageas is to automatically use credit information about prospective clients in motor quotes.