Articles by Chris Wheal
Perkins Slade bolsters board from within
Broker Perkins Slade has announced three new Board appointments from next year. It is promoting Julia Harrop to be client services director, Mark Ford to the role of broking director and Aslam Ismail will become finance and IT director.
Amlin reports fast rising rates in Q3
Amlin reported gross written premium for the ten months ended 31 October 2011 was up 7.1% at £2 051.9m (2010: £1,916.6m).
Bennetts offers classified ads to bikers
Biker-only broker Bennetts is offering free classified ads on its website for private motorbike sellers and motorcycle dealers as part of a drive to grow customer loyalty and protect rates for its insurers.
Grant Thornton gives Sperrin top role
Grant Thornton has promoted Jon Sperrin to partner in its financial services group to lead general insurance services.
Allianz boldly goes into space insurance
Allianz Global Assistance has teamed up with the International Space Transport Association to offer cover for space tourism and commercial space flight.
Phone app launched for motor claims
A start-up company of legal, finance, vehicle recovery and insurance workers has created a smartphone app called iAccident to collect claimants’ data at accident sites.
European floods defy categorisation
Catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide has said the storm that caused flooding in France and Italy earlier this month has led to 36 municipalities in France categorising it as a natural disaster.
AM Best warns of Thai floods hitting BI
AM Best has warned that Thailand’s ongoing flood disaster will trigger significant commercial and business interruption losses to manufacturing and supply chains in global markets.
CILA’s claims certificate gets accredited
The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters’ insurance claims handling certificate has become the first in the industry to be accredited by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.
Rise of PPOs has tailed off in PI cases
The growth of Periodical Payments Orders that top up personal accident claims over time has tailed off according to a study by the International Underwriting Association.
Questgates expands property division
Loss adjuster Questgates has added three new recruits to its property division taking William McClurg from Cunninghams, Andrew Collins from the broker Giles and Sam Hooper from GAB Robins.
Defaqto compares 66 caravan policies
Independent financial research company Defaqto has launched a new data set on the caravan insurance market within to help insurers compete in this niche sector.
Ace recruits from RSA in the Midlands
Ace has recruited RSA’s Steve Baker to its technical risks team as regional construction underwriter, responsible for developing the construction book of business in the Midlands and the South.
Zurich names Treasury boss
Zurich Financial Services has named Irishman Colm Holmes as group treasurer, with immediate effect. He succeeds Pierre Wauthier, who was appointed chief financial officer and member of the group executive committee from 1 October.
QBE strengthens UK surety business
Business insurer QBE has appointed Steve Manwaring as UK surety manager from Swedish bank Svenska Handelsbanken.
Hardy reports COR of 111%
Hardy Underwriting said in its Q3 results gross written premiums for the syndicate had increased by 8.5% year on year.
AmWINS agrees THB deal
AmWINS Group is to take over the THB Group with an accepted bid of 80.55 pence per share making it worth about £29m.
Catlin: cat losses demand change
Catlin has called on its aggregate reinsurance after catastrophe losses from the Thai floods hit $670m.
TIP buys Rhodes Wood Risk Services
Yorkshire broker The Insurance Partnership has expanded its presence in the West Midlands with the acquisition of Wolverhampton-based Rhodes Wood Risk Services.
Post Blog: Admiral directors and wives go on share spending spree
Pity Cheryl Sussens, wife of Admiral non-executive director John Sussens. On 13 September 2011 she bought 30,000 shares in Admiral at a price of £12.73. That gave her a total of 52,000 shares because, on 26 August she bought her first 22,000 shares at a…
Higos grows further with RM Gillingham
Higos Insurance Services has bought Bridport high street firm RM Gillingham & Son as part of it south-western region expansion with its third acquisition this year.
Aviva and L&G extend Barclays ties
Aviva has extended its product range offered through Barclays to include personal accident cover. Legal & General will provide critical illness insurance.
More Than insureds track claims online
More Than has launched an eClaims service that enables motor insurance customers to track their claim from registration to completion online.
GAB Robins raids Buckley Scott
Loss adjuster GAB Robins has expanded its construction and engineering claims by appointing Simon Donnelley from Buckley Scott.