Articles by Harry Curtis
Lloyd's execs encouraged by more disciplined underwriting
Lloyd’s is beginning to see the green shoots of improved underwriting thanks to stringent business planning measures, executives have said following the market’s interim results.
Lloyd's posts £2.3bn first-half profit driven by investment income
Lloyd’s recorded pre-tax profits of £2.3bn in the first six months of 2019, with strong investment returns offsetting a year-on-year deterioration in underwriting profitability.
Pool Re CEO predicts greater ILS diversification beyond US property-cat
Julian Enoizi, CEO of UK government-backed terrorism reinsurer Pool RE, has predicted that the insurance-linked securities market will diversify away from US property-catastrophe risks, into other “difficult to insure perils” such as terrorism.
2018 catastrophe loss levels are the new norm: Air Worldwide
The industry can expect to be hit with on average $92bn (£74.5bn) in insured losses from catastrophes annually going forward, according to catastrophe modeling firm Air Worldwide.
Lloyd's prepared to 'hang' perpetrators of bad behaviour after sobering culture survey
Lloyd’s of London chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown has said that the results of the specialty insurance market’s culture survey are “sobering” and that it won’t hesitate to make an example of perpetrators in order to stamp out bad behaviour.
Government consults on compulsory sprinklers for shorter high-rises
The government has proposed reducing the building height over which the installation of sprinklers are mandatory from 30 metres to 18 metres.
FCA delays publication of dual pricing market study report until October
The publication of the hotly-anticipated interim report on the Financial Conduct Authority’s market study of general insurance pricing practices that was expected this summer has been delayed until October.
Hurricane Dorian estimated to have inflicted $7bn of damage in the Bahamas
Hurricane Dorian inflicted $7bn (£5.7bn) worth of insured and uninsured damage in the Bahamas, catastrophe modelling firm Karen Clark & Company has estimated.
Gallagher acquires lettings and landlord specialists RGA Group
Gallagher has acquired RGA Group, a lettings and landlord broker based in Brentford, marking a return to acquisitions eight months on from its acquisition of Stackhouse Poland.
FCA raises alarm over two unauthorised firms using social media
The Financial Conduct Authority has alerted consumers to two unauthorised insurance firms offering car insurance in the UK.
Insurers 'should use data to accurately price small business risks'
Insurers should take more data into account in order to quote small businesses premiums that properly reflect their risk, Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions has said.
Aviva appoints Erica Arnold as COO
Aviva has appointed Erica Arnold as chief operating officer, a role which will replace the group chief operations and IT officer currently held by Nick Amin.
European reinsurers well-placed to absorb cat losses and take advantage of continued price increases: Fitch
The big four European reinsurers are well capitalised to absorb catastrophe losses and build on pricing increases that are expected to continue into next year, Fitch Ratings has said.
Insured losses from Hurricane Dorian estimated to top £20bn
Hurricane Dorian could inflict insured losses of up to $25bn (£20.7bn), according to analysts at UBS.
Gallagher warns cyber security is the 'soft underbelly' of UK SMEs
Crisis incidents cost UK SMEs a combined £8.8bn in 2018, with cyber-attacks, data breaches and cyber extortion incidents being most prevalent, research from Gallagher has found.
Tesla Insurance launches for owners
Electric car maker Tesla has launched its own insurance offering for drivers of its vehicles in California, with plans to expand to more US states in future.
Rideshare insurtech Inshur reaches $9.6m total investment
Rideshare insurtech Inshur has raised an additional $1.5m (£1.2m) from Viola Fintech for its Series A funding round, taking total investment in the startup to date to $9.6m.
Das UK returns to profitability
Legal expenses insurer Das UK returned to profitability last year, recording a combined ratio below 100% for the first time since 2014.
FCA cracks down on misleading CMC ads
Claims management companies must raise their advertising standards to ensure they do not mislead customers, the Financial Conduct Authority has said.
Deal struck to exempt Irish drivers in the UK from green cards after no-deal Brexit
Irish vehicles will not require green cards to drive in the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit, following a deal struck between the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland the British Department for Transport.
Darag appoints James Insley as CFO
Legacy book acquirer Darag has appointed James Insley as chief financial officer, effective 2 September.
GRP acquires online enterprise risk management firm
Essex-based risk management specialist Health and Safety Click has been bought by consolidator GRP.
Ex-JLT pair Palmer-Brown and Crossland join SSL Endeavour
Jonathan Palmer-Brown and Hugh Crossland, both formerly of JLT, have joined SSL Endeavour as group non-executive chairman and group chief financial officer respectively.
Brightside appoints Derek Henry as broking MD
Brightside has appointed Derek Henry as managing director of broking, following the departure of Russell Bence.