Articles by Harry Curtis
Beazley CEO says ‘it’s getting more difficult to grow’
Beazley has reported record pre-tax profits of $1.42bn (£1.12bn) for 2024, but is forecasting a slowdown in growth this year as market conditions turn.
Cunliffe appointment continues Axa reunion at Markel
Nicola Cunliffe, formerly head of insurance operations at Flock and head of SME trading operations at Axa, has joined Markel as head of trading in the UK.
Broker banned for fraud that led to client’s collapse
The Financial Conduct Authority has banned David Robert Cooke, the former director of Weston-super-Mare broker Professional Construction Risks Limited, from working in financial services.
Pool Re reduces taxpayers’ exposure to UK terrorism risk
Pool Re has completed the placement of a new retrocession programme, shifting more of the financial risk arising from acts of terrorism away from taxpayers and back to the private market.
Howden hit with £20m negligence lawsuit
A luxury hotel group has lodged a professional negligence lawsuit against Howden, alleging oversights by the broker meant it found itself unable to claim for Covid-related business interruption losses in 2020.
Allianz UK to drop LV brand in 2026
Allianz UK’s CEO Colm Holmes has confirmed to Insurance Post that the LV brand is to be dropped in 2026.
Hiscox hits 2024 UK growth target
The growth of Hiscox’s UK retail business gathered momentum over the course of 2024, finishing the year just within the insurer’s 5% to 15% target range, according to its results announcement.
Settlement reached in Covid event cancellation dispute
A $90m (£71.2m) reinsurance dispute involving several Lloyd’s syndicates over losses incurred by Covid-enforced event cancellations in the US and UK during 2020 and 2021 has been settled.
Lyons returns to UK as Gallagher specialty CEO
Gallagher has appointed Sarah Lyons as CEO of its London-based specialty division, succeeding Jonathan Turner, who is leaving the post after five years.
QBE achieves almost 20% uptick in UK revenue
QBE saw the revenue it received for insuring UK risks increase by 19.6% in 2024, according to the group’s annual report.
Court’s judgment will have far-reaching corporate insurance ramifications
The Court of Appeal has handed down its latest judgment in relation to Covid-related business interruption insurance claims, with some of its findings likely to have significant ramifications for commercial lines insurance more broadly.
Dual brings together businesses under single UK brand
Dual has brought several of its subsidiary businesses together under a single UK brand, as part of a broader global rebrand.
RSA appoints Intact Ventures MD Karim Hirji as CFO
Intact has appointed Karim Hirji – formerly managing director of its venture capital arm – as executive vice-president and chief financial officer of RSA UK & International.
Convex to launch Lloyd’s syndicate in April
Convex is set to launch a Lloyd’s syndicate later this year, bringing to an end years of speculation about whether the Stephen Catlin-founded insurer would return to the industry veteran’s old stomping ground.
Trueman leaves CFC following strategic review
CFC has announced the departure of its chief underwriting officer, Dan Trueman, a little over a year after he joined the company, following a strategic review of its structure.
RSA bags best underwriting result ‘in over a decade’
RSA made an underwriting profit of £172m last year, according to financial statements published by the insurer’s parent group Intact.
FM to step up European renewables focus
Commercial and industrial property insurer FM will step up its efforts to serve clients in the renewable energy sector in Europe this year, its UK operations manager has said.
Law firm executives to stand trial in February 2027
Five former executives of the shuttered law firm Axiom Ince will face trial in February 2027, having been charged by the Serious Fraud Office.
FOS to charge CMCs to refer cases
The Financial Ombudsman Service has announced it will charge claims management companies £250 to refer cases to the service from the start of April.
Cyber attacks to be given hurricane-like categorisations
The Cyber Monitoring Centre has announced that it will categorise cyber events affecting UK businesses with immediate effect, giving insurers a potential means of managing their exposure to systemic losses.
Allianz Trade’s Murrow to depart UK to take up Americas CEO role
Allianz Trade’s UK & Ireland CEO Sarah Murrow is set to leave her position later this year, to take up the reins at the trade credit insurer’s Americas business.
Pen simplifies leadership structure ahead of MD’s retirement
Pen Underwriting has appointed Sarah Breslin as managing director of its new commercial UK & Ireland division.
Record claims payouts signal ‘new normal’ in W&I market
Howden has reported that its clients saw a record year of warranty and indemnity claims recoveries in 2024, with the business class seeing significantly elevated notifications for a second year in a row.
RSA and NIG’s David Enoch set to retire
RSA’s distribution and proposition director David Enoch is set to retire after five years at the insurer and its recent acquiree NIG.