Articles by Emma Ann Hughes
Benefact marks £250m given to good causes at St Paul’s
Benefact Group staff and representatives of 10,000 charities supported by the financial services provider gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral today (3 June) to celebrate £250m being donated to good causes.
What the government’s fraud strategy means for insurers
What the government’s new fraud strategy could mean for insurers grappling with everything from cash-for-crash scams to the growing use of artificial intelligence by organised criminals is the focus of the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
Aviva expands ChatGPT insurance app
Two months after becoming the first major UK insurer to launch an app on ChatGPT, Aviva has expanded its capabilities to allow customers to obtain a life insurance quote.
Inside FCA’s AI test: Avantia reveals regulator’s view
Mark Eastham, CEO of Avantia, the sole insurer participant in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Artificial Intelligence Live Testing initiative, has shared what the MGA has gained from direct engagement with the regulator.
How ChatGPT is shaking up general insurance
An update on the launch of Aviva’s ChatGPT-powered insurance app and a call to action from WaniWani, which built the world's first, feature in the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
Aviva bets on ChatGPT becoming major sales channel
Aviva expects artificial intelligence-led distribution to become a “material” sales channel for the insurer within the medium-term after becoming the first major UK provider to launch a ChatGPT app.
Why insurers need to talk about garden design
Editor’s View: Following a visit to Chelsea Flower Show to admire Flood Re’s Contain the Rain garden, Emma Ann Hughes reflects on why insurers need to talk more about gardens, drainage and flood resilience.
Lloyd’s culture head Lomas to exit
Mark Lomas, head of culture at Lloyd’s, is to leave the London Market after four years in the role.
FCA’s Reynolds outlines insurance priorities
Graeme Reynolds, director of competition and interim director of insurance at the Financial Conduct Authority, takes centre stage in the latest Insurance Post Podcast, setting out the regulator’s key priorities for the market.
Insurance Charity CEO plans overhaul to ‘give more away’
The Insurance Charity is preparing a major overhaul of its strategy, systems and support services as CEO Helen Sanson looks to “give more money away” and broaden the organisation’s relevance across the insurance sector.
Eight out of 10 UK insurers secretly track customers
Eight out of 10 UK insurance websites are setting tracking cookies before users have given their consent, according to research by Birmingham-based ALT Agency.
Co-op Insurance managing director Offord exits
Seven years on from being made managing director of Co-op Insurance and tasked with raising the provider from the ashes, Insurance Post can reveal Charles Offord is exiting the business.
Throwback Thursday: Biba’s new rules and tidy commercial
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to May 1981 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when the British Insurance Brokers’ Association was changing designations and commercial combined was a hot new thing.
Biba unveils cyber broker directory and ad campaign
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has launched a national advertising campaign focused on cyber insurance alongside a specialist broker directory aimed at helping SMEs improve their resilience.
FCA outlines how insurers must up their claims game
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned insurers they must improve claims handling standards and consumer understanding of cover following concerns raised in the Which? super-complaint into home and travel insurance.
Stuart McMurdo, Accredited
Stuart McMurdo has firmly established Accredited UK & Europe as a specialty MGA, driving sustained growth and strategic expansion across the region.
Michael Rea, Gallagher
Michael Rea’s first full year as CEO of Gallagher’s UK & Ireland broking business has reinforced his reputation as one of the nation’s biggest movers and shakers in insurance.
Steve Hardy, Policy Expert
Steve Hardy has form when it comes to building challenger brands that punch above their weight.
Simon McGinn, Dual UK
Simon McGinn joined Dual UK as CEO in early 2024 with a clear mandate: to accelerate the MGA’s growth while reinforcing the provider’s regional presence and strengthening its service proposition.
Matthew Crummack, Domestic & General
Matthew Crummack has been CEO of Domestic & General since October 2021 and saw the nation’s biggest appliances insurer bought by US-based Asurion at the end of 2025.
Paul Brand, Convex
AIG’s $2.1bn (£1.5bn) acquisition of a 35% minority stake in Convex marks a defining moment both for the specialty insurer and for Paul Brand, the CEO who has been tasked with steering its growth since 2022.
Neil Gibson, Sedgwick
Neil Gibson’s career as a loss adjuster began back in 1989 and his sphere of influence expanded significantly at the start of this year when he became regional CEO for UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa.
Ones to watch in 2026: Future Power List contenders
These industry leaders narrowly missed out on a place in Insurance Post’s 2026 Power List, but based on their role, career to date and growing influence look set to feature in future rankings.
Paul Lofkin, Crawford
As president of Crawford & Company UK & Ireland, Paul Lofkin has built a reputation for delivering innovative solutions to emerging risks that can save insurers and policyholders money.