Articles by Chris Wheal
IAG audit expert joins Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton has taken on IAG UK’s head of internal audit Sarah Talbott to lead its insurance internal audit services.
Disqualifications up 23% in five years
The number of disqualification orders imposed on directors of insolvent companies jumped 4% last year to 1,437, up from 1,388 the year before, according to City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain.
Zurich UK warns of commercial lines 'market correction' if rates do not rise
Zurich UK says raising personal line premiums by 18% for the past two years and commercial rates by 3% helped it to a half year operating profit of £71m, up £8m or 13% on the same period last year.
Invicta buys Wordsmith's GI business
Paul Cosh and Steve Gamage’s acquisitive broker vehicle Invicta Insurance Services will complete its 9th acquisition in just 18 months in September, buying the general insurance portfolio of Suffolk broker Wordsmith Insurance Services.
Risk map warns investors of countries that cannot cope with natural disasters
China, India, Philippines and Indonesia have the highest economic risk for investors from natural disasters because of their lack of resilience, risk mapping firm Maplecroft has warned.
McDermott promoted at syndicate 3210
Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyd’s has appointed Peter McDermott as active underwriter of syndicate 3210 to write aviation, casualty, marine and property & construction business.
Antiques dealers to get Sterling policy
Sterling Insurance is launching a partnership with Connoisseur Policies to provide cover for art and antiques dealers and auctioneers.
Resources in Insurance is in profit
Claims management firm Resources in Insurance Group says it has moved into profitability after a 48% increase in revenue to £1.4m (£900 000).
Zurich claims Q2 bounce back
Zurich has announced a half year operating profit 7% down on the same time last year at £2.1bn, but said its second quarter was 7% up at $1.3bn.
Retailers demand riot insurance premiums stay low
UK shopkeepers group The British Retail Consortium has demanded urgent meetings with the insurance industry to ensure affordable premiums in riot-torn high streets.
14-day deadline for riot damage claims
Specialist loss adjuster Questgates has warned insurers to get claims in to the police for damage caused by riots within 14 days or miss out.
Broker Reich buys Glasgow's Surenet
Independent broker Reich Insurance has bought Glasgow-based broker Surenet Agency, Reich’s second acquisition in two months. It follows the addition of Bolton broker D. Barnett to its network.
Terrorism remains a risk warns Guy Carpenter
Recorded incidents of terrorism around the world remain at historically high levels and terrorism remains a serious risk to the insurance and reinsurance industry Guy Carpenter has warned.
THB expands Amsterdam office
Broking group THB is expanding its European division, and has appointed Jeroen Nieuwold as a senior broker. He previously worked with Aon for 12 years. He will be based at the European office in Amsterdam.
Markel's 107% COR hit by catastrophes
Niche property and casualty insurer Markel blamed catastrophe losses of $99m for adding 10 points to its combined ratio, taking it to 107%, up from 102% for the same period last year.
Crawford's Q2 boosted by bad weather
Loss adjuster Crawford & Company said second consolidated revenues before reimbursements hit $291.7m, up 22% on the same period last year ($238.2m).
Loss adjuster Axis expands in Mexico
Axis International is expanding its operation in Mexico, targeting domestic growth opportunities and the country's international reinsurance business.
Sportscover backs Wembley's world badminton
Sportscover is the official insurance partner the Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships at Wembley Arena, London.
Royal London exits Liverpool axing 222 jobs
Royal London is to close the old Royal Liver offices in Liverpool making 222 staff redundant.
QBE promotes Judy Holt to top job in broker development
Australian insurer QBE has promoted Judy Holt to head of UK broker development, putting her in charge of strategy and delivery of the broker channel in the UK.
Axis to expand in Mexico
Axis International is to expand its operation in Mexico, targeting domestic growth opportunities and the country's international reinsurance business.
Household water leaks cost £2bn
According to the Association of British Insurers, 9.7 billion litres of water leaked into UK homes over the course of a year – enough to fill 3,880 Olympic size swimming pools.
Aon Benfield issues weather warning
Aon Benfield’s catastrophe modelling centre, Impact Forecasting, says July saw an increase in global tropic cyclone activity ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season reaching its peak.
Lloyds Bank reports GI profits up 10%
The insurance division of Lloyds bank has reported a half year profit before tax of £543m – up 16% compared with £469m in the first half of 2010.