Articles by Harry Curtis
Direct Line’s chief customer officer Kate Syred retires
Direct Line Group’s chief customer officer Kate Syred has retired after more than 20 years at the insurer, Insurance Post can reveal.
Big Interview: Jon Dye, Hiscox
Jon Dye, CEO of Hiscox UK, sits down with Harry Curtis to discuss the business’s growth prospects, its ongoing digital trading efforts and new look C-suite.
CII consulting on cutting ‘around eight’ roles
The Chartered Insurance Institute is planning to cut its headcount by “around eight posts” as part of streamlining efforts.
QBE eyes growth opportunity in ‘underweight’ South East
QBE director of UK regions Andy Fitzgerald has identified the South East as a “massive” growth opportunity for the insurer as it aims to bulk up its UK regions business.
Lloyd’s appoints Miller as US-based chief commercial officer
Lloyd’s has appointed its commercial director Dawn Miller as chief commercial officer and CEO of Lloyd’s Americas, effective 1 September, in a move that will see her relocate to New York later this year.
Aviva revamps financial lines management and pushes into Scotland
Aviva has announced several new hires in its financial lines team, including underwriters that expand its presence into Scotland.
RSA appoints trading directors ahead of NIG integration
RSA has appointed Moira Spencer and Deena Hemming as trading directors for the North and South respectively, ahead of the integration of NIG next month.
Businesses unprepared for incoming anti-terrorism law
Over three quarters of businesses aren’t confident that they will be able to comply with new anti-terrorism requirements, according to research by Gallagher.
Crawford’s Benedict Burke announces retirement
Benedict Burke, chief client officer at Crawford & Company, has announced he will retire at the end of June.
RSA’s UK specialty book expected to surpass £1bn by 2030
RSA’s managing director for UK specialty lines, Steve Watson, expects the size of the business he heads to double by the end of the decade primarily through building out new capabilities.
Lloyd’s confirms Blueprint Two delay alongside 2023 results
The first phase of Lloyd’s of London’s digitalisation programme Blueprint Two will now be rolled out in October, CEO John Neal has confirmed, as the market revealed profits before tax of £10.7bn for 2023.
Lloyd’s lands another big name entrant in Fidelis
The Fidelis Partnership has been granted in principle approval by Lloyd’s to launch a syndicate, in collaboration with Fidelis Insurance Group and Hampden Agencies – the largest provider of private capital to Lloyd’s.
Pool Re to adopt more flexible treaty model in 2025
Pool Re members and the Treasury have backed proposals for the government-backed terrorism reinsurer to adopt a treaty model from next spring.
AIG appoints ex-Aviva boss Patrick Snowball as NED
AIG UK has appointed former Aviva executive and Sabre chairman Patrick Snowball as an independent non-executive director.
Axa recruits Tombs to head up SME business
Axa Commercial has appointed former Zurich head of SME Paul Tombs as director of its SME intermediary business.
Ecclesiastical teases expansion into ‘new and exciting’ sector
Ecclesiastical has reported an underwriting profit of £24.5m for 2023, down 22% on its 2022 result of £31.5m.
Turbulence in the aviation insurance market
Between the aftershocks of a global pandemic and the spectre of losses resulting from the seizure of aircraft in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, Harry Curtis explores how the 2020s got off to a turbulent start for aviation insurers.
Big Interview: Nick Turner, NFU Mutual
Nick Turner, group CEO of NFU Mutual, sits down with Harry Curtis to explain the insurer's growth ambitions, what it's like running a mutual, and how it serves rural communities.
Zurich reveals it has found more than 160 use cases for AI
Zurich has deployed more than 160 artificial intelligence-powered solutions across its business around the world, the insurer’s group chief information and digital office Ericson Chan has said.
Lloyd’s to up cyber and nat cat scrutiny as market grows
Lloyd’s has laid out its approach to managing cyber and natural catastrophe risk, as the market presses on with plans to grow and build on the profits it made in 2023.
Lloyd’s reports £5.9bn underwriting profit for 2023
Lloyd’s has revealed the market achieved a £5.9bn underwriting profit in 2023 ahead of the publication of its full-year results later this month.
Beazley CEO hails ‘standout year’ for property underwriting
Beazley CEO Adrian Cox has labelled property risks as one of the insurer’s “biggest long-term opportunities”, saying that underwriting conditions increasingly favour the specialty market.
Allianz Commercial bolsters regional distribution management
Allianz Commercial has appointed four regional distribution managers covering the South, North, Midlands and the South West, and London regions.
Hiscox sets sights on 5%-15% retail growth after subdued 2023
Hiscox is aiming to grow its UK retail business by 5% to 15% in 2024, after new business growth in 2023 fell “below management expectations”.