Articles by Emma Ann Hughes
Top 100 UK Insurers 2026: Admiral
Admiral has climbed from fifth position last year to fourth place on this year’s Insurance Post Top 100 UK Insurers list.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2026: Intact Insurance
Intact Insurance, formerly known as RSA, has moved from fourth to sixth place on this year’s Top 100 UK Insurers list after the provider pulled out of personal lines.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2026: Axa
Axa remains in ninth place on this year’s Top 100 UK Insurers list, after combining its retail and commercial arms under a single structure earlier this year.
Lithium-ion batteries: the emerging risk insurers can’t ignore
How the growing use of lithium-ion batteries is increasing the potential for significant fires and complex losses is the focus of the latest Insurance Post podcast.
Which? names and shames motor insurers over high APRs
Which? has named and shamed motor insurers charging more than 30% APR on policies paid for monthly, and is calling on the government to ban providers from charging a ‘poverty premium’.
Flood Re prepares for 2039 exit with resilience platform
Flood Re has unveiled plans to develop BeFloodReady into a national flood resilience platform, stepping up efforts to improve property-level resilience ahead of the reinsurance scheme’s planned closure in 2039.
Big Interview: Steve Hardy, Policy Expert
Steve Hardy, CEO of Policy Expert, explains why the nation’s biggest MGA is prioritising resilience over rapid growth, whether M&A is on the cards and shares his views on the likes of ChatGPT selling insurance.
IUAD targets £500K fundraising record with Insurance Day for Dementia
Insurance United Against Dementia is targeting a record £500,000 in fundraising on this year’s Insurance Day for Dementia, with Lloyd’s underwriting floor set to be taken over as part of the campaign.
European product safety risks remain high despite recall decline
European product recalls remained at historically high levels in the first half of 2026, highlighting persistent exposure for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers plus the insurers covering their risks.
Headcount cuts cost insurance its human headspace
Editor’s View: After years of warning about a war for talent, Emma Ann Hughes reckons insurance bosses should think carefully before winning the cost war by replacing some of the people it spent so long trying to attract with artificial intelligence.
Jensten CEO Organ exits with Buesnel named successor
Rob Organ is to step down as CEO of Jensten Group, with Clive Buesnel appointed as his successor from 2 November 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Admiral covers plug-in solar as one in five consider purchase
Admiral has confirmed its home insurance customers will be covered for plug-in solar panels as standard, after research revealed one in five UK adults are considering buying the technology.
Q&A: Jeremy Trott, Ecclesiastical
Jeremy Trott shares his plan as church operations director and what he’ll bring to the new role from his six years’ experience as claims director.
FCA outlines next steps with delegated authority deep dive
The Financial Conduct Authority is preparing to take a closer look at delegated authority arrangements, with an information request being sent out to get a clearer picture of how outsourcing is being used across the insurance market.
Insurance Post’s Top MGAs of 2026 revealed
Policy Expert is the nation’s biggest MGA after achieving record-breaking revenue of more than £200m for UK-based non-life risks in 2025.
ABI alliance targets G20 presidency focus on protection gaps
The Association of British Insurers has joined forces with its Australian, Canadian and New Zealand counterparts in a new alliance that aims to tackle protection gaps and help shape the UK’s G20 presidency.
Insurance fraud hits £1.34bn as criminals pursue higher-value claims
Insurance fraudsters are targeting bigger payouts, with insurers detecting £1.34bn worth of bogus claims in 2025, according to new figures from the Association of British Insurers.
Cowbell launches AI agent to help SMEs tackle cyber risk
Cowbell has launched an artificial intelligence-powered risk adviser designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises identify and address their cyber risks.
Policy Expert reshapes top team for end of insurance cycles
Policy Expert has reshaped its senior leadership team as it prepares for what CEO Steve Hardy believes could be the end of the traditional insurance cycle.
Beazley’s Cox exits as Zurich completes £8bn takeover
Adrian Cox is leaving Beazley as Zurich completes its £8bn acquisition of the specialty insurer.
Biba flood scheme pays £9m in claims over first decade
A specialist commercial flood insurance scheme from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and Mi Specialty has paid more than £9m in claims to businesses over its first decade, with the scheme now covering £600m of assets.
FCA’s Knight insists CPD changes are not a relaxation
The Financial Conduct Authority’s decision to ditch its 15-hour-per-year continuing professional development requirement for insurers should not be viewed as a relaxation of standards, according to the regulator’s director of insurance, Chris Knight.
CII CEO raises concerns over AI and entry-level insurance roles
Matthew Hill, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, has warned that the automation of entry-level tasks could change how future insurance professionals develop their skills and judgement.
Q&A: James O’Hara, AbbeyAutoline
James O’Hara, a Chartered insurance broker and senior manager at AbbeyAutoline, reveals how he achieved one of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s highest global accolades after topping the performance charts in his Fellowship examinations.