Articles by Emma Ann Hughes
Managing the ‘forever risk’ of PFAS
How PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, is creating one of the most complex and far-reaching environmental risks for insurers today is the topic of the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
ChatGPT ‘sci-fi’ fears dismissed by Confused’s CTO
Timothy Kimball, chief technology officer of Confused.com, has pushed back at suggestions artificial intelligence will undermine price comparison websites, arguing the technology is an opportunity rather than a threat.
Aviva to launch first UK ChatGPT insurance app
Aviva is set to be the first major UK insurer to launch an app on ChatGPT, Insurance Post can exclusively reveal.
Big Interview: Alistair Brighton, Marsh
In a softening market, Alistair Brighton, CEO of Marsh Commercial & Corporate UK, is doubling down on client retention, sector specialism and businesses to reinvest premium savings to drive sustainable growth.
LMA warns safety fears choking Hormuz not insurance
The Lloyd’s Market Association has hit back at ongoing reports vessels are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz due to cancelled or unaffordable insurance.
Flood support gaps that insurers can’t afford to ignore
Flood victims face prolonged financial strain and unmet mental health needs, a survey has shown, placing fresh scrutiny on how insurers handle claims, vulnerability and post-loss support.
Zurich’s Nicholson says tech must enable empathy in claims
Insurers need to strike the right balance between digital efficiency and human empathy in claims handling, according to James Nicholson, chief claims officer of Zurich UK.
ChatGPT delivers fourfold conversion uplift for insurer
Traffic generated through ChatGPT is converting at four times the rate of traditional search engines, signalling a major shift in how customers buy insurance, according to Juan Garcia, co-founder and co-CEO of Tuio.
ManyPets CEO warns pet insurance is at inflection point
Luisa Barile, group CEO of ManyPets, has warned pet insurance is at an inflexion point when it comes to profitability, meeting customer expectations and artificial intelligence changing how policies are purchased.
Throwback Thursday: Cila conference cancelled; OJ denied
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to March 1996 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters pulled the plug on an event and an insurer said no to OJ Simpson.
Sicsic expands reach of regulatory consultancy
Former regulator Michael Sicsic has outlined plans to expand Sicsic Advisory as the business looks to build on the growth it has achieved since its launch in 2019.
What next for employers’ liability insurance?
What’s driving the changing claims picture in employers’ liability and employment practices liability is the focus of the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
FCA and FOS reveal plan to speed-up complaints handling
The Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Ombudsman Service have today (16 March) set out plans to overhaul the UK’s consumer redress framework.
Insurer CEOs bet big on AI and M&A for growth
Insurance chief executives have artificial intelligence, dealmaking and ESG strategy at the heart of their growth plans for this year, according to KPMG.
Vitality offers cut-price weight loss jabs with Boots
Health insurer Vitality is offering policyholders discounted weight loss jabs and coaching through Boots Online Doctor.
Throwback Thursday: NU goes west & D&G’s PC deal
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to March 1996 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when Norwich Union went west and Domestic & General branched out into computers.
Direct Line fined £10.6m for solvency miscalculation
The Prudential Regulation Authority has fined Direct Line Group £10.6m after it miscalculated its Solvency II balance sheet during 2023 and 2024.
Building homes back better after floods
With the Environment Agency warning one in four homes is now at risk of flooding, the latest Insurance Post Podcast explores what the insurance industry is doing to make properties more resilient from storms.
FCA and PRA turn spotlight on MGA oversight
The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are sharpening their scrutiny of managing general agents, stressing insurers must take primary responsibility for businesses underwriting on their behalf.
Ex-CFC duo Walsh and Newman launch insurance investment vehicle
Former CFC leaders Graeme Newman and David Walsh have launched a family office, Kantara Capital, to invest in early-stage financial services intermediaries.
What Zurich buying Beazley means for the market
Editor’s View: Zurich’s £8.2bn swoop for Beazley is a decisive bet on specialty insurance, which Emma Ann Hughes observes widens the gap between the industry’s supermarket giants and the squeezed middle.
Throwback Thursday: Hiscox takeover; Zurich shake-up
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to March 1996 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when Hiscox bought a rival and Zurich restructured its broker division
Which? warns insurers are failing storm-hit homeowners
Insurers have been accused by Which? of shirking their responsibilities for paying out policyholder's claims when their houses suffer damage due to storms and other extreme weather events.
Marine insurance to navigate choppy waters
How geopolitical tension, supply-chain bottlenecks, climate-driven weather extremes and surging regulatory oversight are making marine insurance challenging is the focus of the latest Insurance Post Podcast.