Articles by Emma Ann Hughes
Donald Trump and Elon Musk
Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, with Elon Musk as his right-hand man, created many challenges for the UK insurance industry.
Stuart McMurdo, Accredited UK and Europe
Stuart McMurdo is president of Accredited UK and Europe, which has swiftly established itself as a leading specialty MGA insurer.
John Bissell, Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters
John Bissell, executive director of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, is working to help the sector win the war for talent.
Adrian Cox, Beazley
Beazley’s CEO Adrian Cox plans to sponsor more cyber catastrophe bonds in 2025 as the specialty insurance and reinsurance underwriter continues to focus on growth.
Patrick Tiernan appointed Lloyd’s CEO
Patrick Tiernan has succeeded John Neal as CEO of Lloyd’s, with his tenure kicking off on 1 June 2025.
Q&A: Adrien Lebègue, Peak3
Adrien Lebègue, CEO of EMEA at Peak3, outlines how his platform works and plans to deepen his penetration of the UK by expanding it to cover commercial lines.
Most complained about general insurers revealed
Admiral, Aviva, Direct Line, Axa and RSA were the most complained about general insurers in the latter half of 2024.
Big Interview: Drazen Jaksic, Zurich UK
Drazen Jaksic, CEO of Zurich UK, is ambitious and likes a challenge, but he won’t be slashing the price of the provider’s general insurance policies anytime soon to swiftly grow the business.
FCA’s premium finance conundrum: act or step back?
Editor’s View: With falling premiums, a stalled government motor insurance taskforce, and jittery markets, Emma Ann Hughes wonders if no action is now the most likely outcome of the Financial Conduct Authority’s premium finance market review.
Zurich CEO outlines plan to compete on value rather than price
Drazen Jaksic, CEO of Zurich UK, has shared he won’t be slashing the price of the provider’s general insurance policies anytime soon in a bid to swiftly grow the business.
Carbon Underwriting CEO retires due to MS
Carbon Underwriting co-founder and CEO Nick Tye is retiring from the business following a diagnosis of progressive multiple sclerosis.
Storm Éowyn losses creep up to £592m
Perils has increased its industry loss estimate for Storm Éowyn to €696m (£592m).
Commercial insurance rates fall 6% in Q1
UK commercial insurance rates fell 6%, on average, in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Global Insurance Market Index released today (24 April) by Marsh.
CII won’t budge on CPD requirements for insurers
The Chartered Insurance Institute has insisted it won’t alter its continuous professional development requirements for members, even if the Financial Conduct Authority axes its training demands.
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.