Articles by Francesca Nyman
Hastings sees GWP jump 24% in H1
Hastings Insurance Group saw gross written premium increase by 24% to £282.7m in the first six months of 2015 (H1 2014: £227.2m) aided by continued growth in customer numbers.
Go Compare blocks 'thousands' of fraud attempts with point-of-quote detection tool
Go Compare has rolled out a point-of-quote fraud detection and prevention service in collaboration with fraud solutions company Iovation, which it says is the first such tool developed by an aggregator.
IT boss who hacked 900 Aviva phones jailed for 18 months
A computer firm boss who hacked 900 mobile phones belonging to Aviva staff has been jailed for 18 months.
Zurich deal represents 'excellent value' for RSA shareholders
Zurich’s proposed offer for RSA represents “excellent value” for RSA shareholders, according to analysts at Berenberg investment bank, but the case for Zurich shareholders is less compelling, they suggest.
PPI accounts for 55% of all FOS complaints in first six months
Claims managers have been blamed for fuelling payment protection insurance complaints as the latest figures from the Financial Ombudsman Service show PPI accounted for more than half of all grievances in the first six months of 2015.
Tokio Marine Kiln confirms Shoreham air crash liability as CAA imposes restrictions
The Civil Aviation Authority has implemented a series of temporary changes relating to UK civil air displays following a plane crash at the Shoreham Air Display on Saturday (22 August) for which Tokio Marine Kiln is the lead liability insurer.
Towers Watson shareholders aim to block Willis merger
Towers Watson shareholders have filed several class action suits against the consultancy firm in the US over its planned merger with broker Willis.
One Call launches telematics app
Broker One Call Insurance has launched a new telematics solution – Live Drive – after completing a pilot earlier this year.
Amlin posts reduced profit in H1 due to 'change in accounting'
Amlin reported a fall in profit before tax to £143.3m in the first half of 2015 (H1 2014: £148.5m) due to changes in its accounting for catastrophe reinsurance earned premium.
Broker Network's insurer relations manager to join Axa
Broker Network’s insurer relations manager Dene Smith has left the organisation to head up Axa’s Birmingham branch.
John Lewis enlists 'Monty the Penguin' team for new home insurance advert
John Lewis has enlisted the team behind its popular ‘Monty the Penguin’ Christmas advert for a new campaign to promote its home insurance products.
Deafness claims volume putting ‘strain’ on operational staff
Claims staff at many insurers are facing increased ‘operation strain’ as they struggle to deal with the high volume of noise-induced hearing loss notifications.
Cobalt selected as ‘insurer of preference’ for Paramount Resort
Shariah-compliant managing general agent Cobalt Underwriting has been selected as the preferred insurer for the £3bn London Paramount Entertainment Resort in Kent, Post can reveal.
German insurers have largest foothold in €3.86bn travel and assistance market
The stand-alone travel insurance and assistance market across 20 European countries totalled €3.86bn (£2.45bn) in terms of gross written premiums in 2014 and is forecast to rise to €4.54bn by 2018.
Quindell inquiries expected to run for years as shareholders seek redress
Hundreds of shareholders of beleaguered outsourcer Quindell are gearing up to seek compensation following “misleading statements” by the firm’s former management, as market insiders reveal investigations into the company could run for several years.
Allianz wins judgment on ‘unreasonable’ issuing of court proceedings
Allianz has successfully defended itself from having to pay seven times more in costs for a personal injury case after a judge ruled the claimant had issued legal proceedings prematurely.
Hundreds of London market wordings threatened by Insurance Act
Hundreds of model policy wordings used by the London market may require amendment in light of the new Insurance Act, according to the Lloyd's Market Association.
Blanc claims Axa is unrecognisable from past and defends business merger
Significant improvements at Axa in the UK over the past five years mean the insurer is in a very different place ahead of the planned merger of its commercial and personal lines business, according to CEO Amanda Blanc.
Government to 'encourage' insurers to join nuclear market
The government plans to encourage more insurers to enter the nuclear insurance market, to ensure there is sufficient capacity for planned nuclear power stations in the UK, the parliamentary under-secretary for climate change said this week.
Covéa and Sterling staff join forces in single Manchester branch
Covéa’s and Sterling’s regional teams have joined forces in a single Manchester office as the companies edge closer to integration.
Target Group’s Larkin and Alley to become co-CEOs following reshuffle
Outsourcing and software provider Target Group has promoted Ian Larkin and Bill Alley to the role of co-group CEO and appointed Paddy Byrne to the role of chairman.
Carney must clarify 'scope' of senior managers' regime
Bank of England governor Mark Carney needs to clarify the way the new senior managers' insurance regime interacts with Solvency II, according to one law firm.
Towergate and Hiscox capitalise on growing schemes market
The number of commercial lines affinity schemes is increasing, particularly among professional associations, as brokers and underwriters strive for growth and profitability in a tough market.
Howden boosts Midlands presence with Perkins Slade buy
Howden UK has agreed to buy Perkins Slade Forrest subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.