Articles by Harry Curtis
Neal predicts consolidation as Lloyd’s delivers £3.9bn H1 pre-tax profit
Lloyd’s CEO John Neal has said the market’s underwriting performance is “as good as we’ve seen in recent decades”, as it reported a £3.9bn profit before tax for the first half of 2023.
Beazley achieves record H1 profit for second year in a row
Beazley has posted a small uptick in first-half pre-tax profits to a record $366m (£292.8m), boosted by its US property and European cyber businesses.
Treasury's IPT receipts surpass £7bn
The Treasury collected a record £7.34bn in insurance premium tax receipts during the 2022/23 financial year, analysis by actuarial consultancy OAC has revealed.
Simon McGinn appointed Dual UK CEO
Simon McGinn has been appointed as CEO of Dual Group’s UK business, as the Howden-owned managing general agent looks to more than double the premium it writes.
Lightweight concrete used in schools poses coverage questions
A construction material that has sparked widespread concern about the safety of school buildings could present insurance coverage challenges, were its use to give rise to claims.
Direct Line ordered to pay £65,000 for discrimination against menopausal employee
An employment tribunal has ordered Direct Line to pay close to £65,000 to a former employee after finding the insurer breached the Equality Act (2010) in 2021.
Reinsurers’ share of nat cat losses shrinks as profits rise
The proportion of total industry natural catastrophe losses taken by reinsurers has fallen in recent years, with primary insurers retaining more risk.
Tysers CEO to depart as parent group splits up business
Tysers CEO Clive Buesnel is to step down at the end of August, following the splitting up of the Lloyd’s broker’s operations by parent group AUB Group.
Hemming appointed as Hiscox chief distribution officer
Hiscox has appointed former Aviva distribution boss Gareth Hemming as its UK chief distribution officer.
Resilience to build out UK and Europe operations after $100m funding round
Cyber MGA Resilience is set to build out its operations in the UK and Europe following a $100m (£78.9m) Series D funding round.
Oliver Wyman to rapidly build 'double-digit headcount' UK actuarial practice
Oliver Wyman expects to “quickly recruit a team with a "double-digit headcount” to its UK actuarial practice, the Marsh McLennan management consultancy has told Insurance Post.
Q&A: Gary Brown, McLarens
Gary Brown, CEO of McLarens, speaks to Insurance Post about the loss adjuster's growth, global claims trends and preparing for catastrophic events.
Lloyd’s refresh won’t usher in ‘dystopian digital future’
The ongoing refurbishment of the Lloyd’s underwriting room is not a step towards a “dystopian digital future”, the market’s chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown has said.
Greensill administrators sue Zurich for unpaid trade credit claims
The administrators of Greensill Bank are suing Zurich, alleging the insurer wrongfully refused to pay claims under a trade credit insurance policy.
Sedgwick Legal Services accelerates build-out plans in disrupted sector
Sedgwick has stepped up plans to build out its legal services arm as it capitalises on trends in the insurance defendant law firm sector, partner Paul Squires has said.
Bank to gain power to intercede as insurers collapse
The UK government has announced plans to establish a dedicated regime to deal with the failure of insurance companies.
Q&A: David Miller, Howden head of sport, Scotland
David Miller, Howden’s head of sport in Scotland, speaks to Post about the broker’s ambitions in the sport market and the challenges facing golf clubs looking for cover.
Rugby clubs and restaurants mount Covid BI suit against Allianz
Allianz is facing legal proceedings brought by more than 30 claimants seeking payouts for Covid-related business interruption.
Lloyd's approves California wildfire syndicate
Lloyd’s has approved the creation of a syndicate dedicated to underwriting wildfire-exposed commercial risks in California.
Zurich refused permission to appeal £8m court judgment
The Commercial Court has refused Zurich permission to appeal a judgment that obliges the insurer to pay millions to a travel company, having determined that an appeal would have “no real prospect” of success.
Flat Iron becomes latest restaurant to take Covid BI fight to the courts
London steakhouse chain Flat Iron is the latest restaurant to bring legal proceedings against its insurer in pursuit of a business interruption payout for disruption it suffered due to Covid-19 restriction.
Bridgehaven negotiating with 40 MGAs following PRA approval
Fronting insurer Bridgehaven Insurance will focus on underwriting medium-sized businesses and is in dialogue with 40 managing general agents, CEO Paul Jewell told Insurance Post.
Flood Re aims to make Build Back Better the industry standard within a year
Flood Re CEO Andy Bord set out his ambition to make ‘building back better’ as much of an industry standard within a year as ‘new for old’ is with regards to contents insurance claims.
Surveyor sounds alarm over £2.2bn insurance gap
More than a third of buildings surveyed by valuation specialists Charterfields have been underinsured by over 50%, the firm revealed in a report.