Articles by Chris Wheal
RSA’s Tomlinson to prepare RBSI sale
RBS Insurance has poached RSA’s group legal director Humphrey Tomlinson to be general counsel and company secretary to prepare the business for sale.
RSA promotes Heiss to legal chief
RSA has promoted Charlotte Heiss to the role of head of group legal at its group corporate centre.
XL Insurance expands middle market
XL Insurance is to expand its middle market offering to UK companies with a turnover between £25m and £250m. It will include international coverage if required.
Keelan Westall expands broker club
Keelan Westall claims to have expanded its Prestige Broker Club for brokers - generating £150 000 of premium – up by almost 20% since the spring.
Aviva reviews Downton Abbey adverts
Aviva says it is reviewing critical comments about its TV advertising campaign after Downton Abbey viewers complained about the insurer’s sponsorship and series of TV ads on Sunday night.
FSA takes too long over permissions, RPC lawyers warn
The length of time it takes the FSA to grant financial services firms permission to expand their businesses has increased by 10% in the last year, says City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain.
Belfor drops Relectronic name
Belfor Relectronic has dropped the Relectronic name it acquired since taking over Relectronic Remech in 2001.
Nicholson to chair Liberty Syndicates
Liberty Syndicates Management, part of Liberty Mutual, has appointed Keith Nicholson as non-executive chairman.
Aon says pirates now have less success
Aon Risk Solutions’ first in-depth piracy report for ship owners worldwide says that although piracy is increasing, successful hijacks are on the decline.
RSA insists adding to claims is “legal”
RSA has insisted its use of a wholly-owned subsidiary to increase the prices of motor accident repairs charged to rival firms is lawful.
Arc Legal signs Insure for Retirement deal
Legal expenses insurer Arc Legal Assistance has signed a six figure deal to provide cover for policyholders with over 50s specialist Insure for Retirement.
Jubilee celebrates Pearce’s move
Specialist Lloyd’s insurer Jubilee has poached Philip Pearce from AMTrust International Underwriters to be underwriter in its expanding affinity and special risks team.
AIR cuts loss estimates for Irene
Catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide has cut its industry insured loss estimates for Hurricane Irene’s impact in the Bahamas to between $200m $400m (previously $300m to $700m).
RSA’s enhanced motor claims add 25%
Britain’s fourth biggest motor insurer RSA stands accused by a county court judge of artificially inflating repair costs charged to other insurers by more than £2.4m.
Marsh appoints Bill Pieroni as COO
Marsh has named State Farm’s Bill Pieroni as chief operating officer from 19 September.
JLT to poach staff from top brokers
JLT boss Dominic Burke has declared open season on poaching top staff from rival firms after a £166m investment from its 30-year backer Jardine Matheson.
Willis names new Argentina chief
Broker giant Willis has promoted its Latin America group regional placement officer Seth Peller to be CEO of Willis Argentina, based in Buenos Aires.
Brightside’s H1 pre-tax profit up 80%
Broking group Brightside has reported half-year revenue up 50% to £39.8m (2010: £26.6m) and pre-tax profit up 80% to £7.2m (2010: £4.0m) on the back of its buyout of eCar and eBike.
Jardine Matheson increases JLT stake
Broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson has said its London-listed, Bermuda registered, Chinese founded backer Jardine Matheson is to take an extra 10% of the company for £166.27m.
Biba relaunches website for members
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has relaunched its website with more guidance for members and a new ‘Find a Broker’ search to promote insurance brokers to customers.
Mark Byrne to take over at Omega
Bermuda insurer Haverford is to take a 25% stake in troubled Lloyd’s insurer Omega Insurance Holdings, with Haverford boss Mark Byrne taking the Omega chairman’s role.
Run-off restructuring expected, says PWC
Nearly two out of three run-off reinsurers and insurers believe Solvency II will force them to tackle underperforming lines of business, a PWC survey has found.
Torus poaches Gras from Howden
Torus Executive Risks has recruited Howard Gras as deputy professional indemnity manager in its financial lines team.
Perils says cat total exceeded $2.5bn
Zurich-based European catastrophe insurance data group Perils has revealed that its industry loss index since the beginning of 2010 has exceeded $2.5bn.