Articles by Emma Ann Hughes
Insurers question climate protest group claims
Claims made by the Boycott Bloody Insurance group against insurers such as Allianz, Axa, Aviva, Zurich and Intact have been called into question by several of the providers named.
Big Interview: Stephanie Ogden, HDI
Stephanie Ogden, CEO of HDI Global for UK and Ireland, outlines how she is raising recognition of the brand, making sure the provider is “punching where it should be”, plus gives a glimpse of the ways she is redefining what leadership looks like in 2025.
Ecclesiastical ‘courting’ MGAs to offer capacity
Dave Carey, managing director of intermediary at Ecclesiastical, has revealed the new lines the insurer intends to enter, and how it will need to provide capacity to MGAs to double gross written premium by 2030.
How Trump’s tariffs shook up insurers’ investment books
Darren Bustin, global head of solutions capabilities and insurance solutions at Schroders, has revealed how regulatory changes, Labour’s growth agenda plus US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs have impacted general insurers’ investment books.
Ageas UK CEO shares plans for Esure
Ant Middle, Ageas UK CEO, has revealed his plan to integrate Esure by the end of 2027 plus how he will achieve £100m of cost savings and turn the combined business into a top three personal lines player.
How Trump’s tariffs could make motor insurers great again
Editor’s View: US President Donald Trump’s tariffs could prove a fresh road to hell for motor insurers unless they show they’ve learnt lessons from the last few bruising years of claims inflation, according to Emma Ann Hughes.
Insurers cover APR cuts by increasing instalment costs
Consumer Intelligence has uncovered evidence that insurers are reducing their advertised annual percentage rate for premium finance without reducing the actual cost of paying for home and motor insurance in instalments.
Rathi reappointed FCA CEO
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reappointed Nikhil Rathi as CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority for a second term.
Covéa finally swings back to profit
Covéa Insurance has swung from an £87.3m loss in 2023 to posting a £32.9m profit for 2024.
PRA launches consultation to help insurers rapidly invest
The Prudential Regulation Authority has outlined plans for a matching adjustment investment accelerator to reduce the barriers to rapid investment insurance firms face.
Aviva and Axa hit back at claims made by Which?
Aviva and Axa have refuted claims by Which? that their “potentially unfair definitions of storms and floods” are being used to reject claims made by customers who have had their property damaged.
Trump’s tariffs impact on insurance laid bare
The introduction of US president Donald Trump’s tariffs on Wednesday (9 April) will increase the cost of claims, particularly in motor and home insurance, experts have warned.
Little less conversation and a lot more insurtech action please
Editor’s View: The Labour government’s insurtech ambition would be laughable if it wasn’t so delusional, argues Emma Ann Hughes.
McLarens changes top team to ‘maintain’ growth
McLarens has made changes to its senior management team, in a bid to “maintain the momentum” of the loss adjusting firm’s growth across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Zurich takes stake in Lloyd’s coverholder
Zurich Insurance is set to buy a stake in Icen Risk, a Lloyd’s of London coverholder.
Millions are multiple manipulators when seeking car insurance
More than a third of UK motorists are altering five or more pieces of information when obtaining a car insurance quote, new data from Percayso Inform has revealed.
Treasury brands Civil Liability Act a success
HM Treasury has patted itself on the back for the impact of the Civil Liability Act 2018, claiming policyholders pay lower insurance premiums thanks to the legislation.
Spring Statement 2025: What insurers should know
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her 2025 Spring Statement today (26 March) with a mix of spending cuts, investment pledges, and economic forecasts.
Painting a picture of the fine art insurance market
Today’s trends in fine art and how this affects the world of insurance are tackled in the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
FCA unveils new strategy to ‘support growth’
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a new five-year strategy that the regulator’s chiefs claimed will “deepen trust, rebalance risk, support growth and improve lives”.
Big Interview: Paul Lofkin, Crawford
Paul Lofkin, president of Crawford for UK & Ireland, is going to sort out the nation’s subsidence and promises to “disrupt that market like never before”.
Roles that got a pay rise or cut in insurance revealed
Some insurance employees in 2024 enjoyed a 15% uptick in their salary while others saw their wages fall by nearly 10%, according to Reed’s Salary Guide for 2025.
How the Battle of Hastings could hurt insurers
Editor’s View: Hastings Insurance’s victory over HM Revenue & Customs marks a significant turning point for insurance intermediaries and their ability to recover VAT, according to Emma Ann Hughes.
Hiscox offers update on plan for genAI underwriting
Hiscox and Google Cloud have shared plans to introduce generative artificial underwriting to more lines of business and explained what it took to get it working last year for terrorism cover.