Articles by Harry Curtis
Commercial motor pricing stabilised but capacity constraints remain
Price increases in the UK commercial motor market have subsided over the course of 2025, but capacity constraints remain in pockets, according to several brokers and providers that spoke to Post.
Bspoke in ‘ongoing’ conversations over retail acquisitions
Bspoke deputy chair Tim Smyth has said the MGA is pursuing a number of acquisitions that would add businesses to its newly formed retail division.
Inside the shrinking market for HGV insurance
In the wake of exits from the market in recent years, Harry Curtis looks at why insurers are cautious about insuring heavy goods vehicles and how those that do manage it.
Airmic CEO Julia Graham to step down next year
Julia Graham is set to step down from her role as CEO of Airmic next year and will be succeeded by Diane Maxwell.
Long-term participants have an edge in ‘challenging’ PI market
Underwriting adaptability and prudence are all important in the face of a professional indemnity insurance market swimming in capacity and a turbulent geopolitical environment, Markel senior underwriter Joanne Healy has told Post.
WTW and Swiss Re launch cover for red weather warnings
WTW and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions have worked together to design a parametric insurance product that pays out automatically when either the UK Met Office or Irish Met Éireann issues a red weather warning.
Dual launches commercial combined to anchor regions challenge
Dual has launched a commercial combined proposition with capacity led by Zurich that it hopes will establish it as a “challenger market” for brokers in the UK regions, Post can reveal.
UK D&O market headed for ‘inflection point’
The UK directors’ and officers’ insurance market is approaching an “inflection point” as rates continue to soften amid insolvency and regulatory risks, the CEO and founder of financial lines MGA Kayzen Specialty has told Post.
McGill gives GB Snowsport pre-Olympics boost
Specialty broker McGill and Partners has launched a partnership with the governing body for British skiers and snowboarders, making a significant contribution to preparations for next year’s Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ship fires fuelled by mis-declared cargo on the rise
The number of fires at sea caused by mis-declared or undeclared cargo is on the rise, according to Halliwell Forensics, a specialist forensic investigation firm tasked by loss adjusters and insurers with ascertaining the cause of blazes on ships.
Q&A: Jonathan Gray, Pool Re
Jonathan Gray, chief underwriting officer at Pool Re, discusses the impact of recent changes at the state-backed terrorism reinsurer and how its helping businesses manage risk.
Bspoke promotes Gill to CEO
Bspoke Group has appointed Ryan Gill as CEO, succeeding Tim Smyth, who becomes deputy chair.
Oxford University colleges sue Aviva for Covid losses
29 colleges and halls of the University of Oxford are suing Aviva for losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ex-MIB CEO Clayden joins Compre
Dominic Clayden, who stepped down as CEO of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau last year, has been appointed as interim global claims director at Compre.
Former Gable CEO found liable for £5m misappropriations
The former CEO and chief financial officer of insurer Gable, which collapsed in 2016, have been found liable for millions of pounds in legal proceedings brought by the company’s liquidators.
Lloyd’s urges ‘laser focus’ on COR as Tiernan teases strategy refresh
Lloyd’s executives have urged market participants to ensure combined ratios do not creep up, so that it can continue to absorb the impact of major loss events such as this year’s California wildfires.
Blueprint Two re-platforming won’t complete before 2028
The core re-platforming element of the London market’s Blueprint Two modernisation programme is not expected to be completed until at least 2028, Lloyd’s CEO Patrick Tiernan has said.
Gallagher Re CEO insists buyers have ‘huge amount of choice’
Gallagher Re CEO Tom Wakefield has said the turning market means that numerous facets of reinsurance programmes will be up for discussion ahead of the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo.
Reinsurance outlook ranges from ‘stable’ to ‘deteriorating’
Rating agencies have shared their outlook for the global reinsurance sector, with both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Ratings revising down their outlooks for 2026, while S&P Global Ratings has maintained its ‘stable’ outlook.
Big Interview: Andrew McMellin, Markel
Andrew McMellin, president of Markel International, sits down with Harry Curtis to talk about the insurer’s plans to hit $5bn premium by 2030, rebalance its portfolio, and how it’s using AI to turn the distribution chain on its head.
Sompo strikes £2.6bn deal to acquire Aspen
Sompo has agreed to acquire Aspen in a deal worth approximately $3.5bn (£2.6bn), with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Architects take first step towards mutual insurer
Architects have taken the first step towards setting up an insurance mutual with a new scheme to provide professional indemnity cover to small-to-medium-sized practices.
RSA calls on industry to act to avoid liability ‘landmine’
RSA has called on the wider insurance industry to help thousands of businesses ensure they don’t fall foul of new legislation and open themselves up to criminal liability.
Admiral launches branded body shop to master new vehicle tech
Admiral has put its name on a new repair centre in Manchester, which it says will be a testbed for trialling new technologies and processes.