Articles by Harry Curtis
Former top civil servant Sedwill joins Lloyd's Council
Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill of Sherborne, formerly the UK’s top civil servant, has been appointed to the Lloyd’s Council as senior independent director and deputy chair.
Beazley touts cyber claims frequency reductions as it returns to profit
Underwriting action taken at Beazley towards the end of last year has cut cyber claims frequency in half, the insurer revealed on Friday as it reported a $167.3m (£121.8m) pre-tax profit for the first half of 2021.
Hand sanitiser slips and stress claims warning as leisure and hospitality reopens
Hand sanitiser slips and stress are among the risks employers in the leisure and hospitality sector need to be aware of in the wake of Covid restrictions being lifted, lawyers at Keoghs have said.
Insurance firms urged to review dress codes to boost gender inclusion
The Gender Inclusion Network has urged insurance companies to review their dress codes as part of a broader effort to build knowledge and acceptance of non-binary and trans identities in the market.
Airmic appoints Easy Jet's Claire Combes as next chair
Airmic has appointed Claire Combes, director of risk and assurance at Easy Jet, as its next chair, effective 1 September.
Allianz brings personal lines businesses together and streamlines senior management
Allianz has restructured its UK business, creating distinct personal lines and commercial lines divisions led by Steve Treloar and Simon McGinn respectively.
FSCS general insurance compensation falls as shadow of Enterprise's collapse recedes
The cost of compensating customers of failed general insurance companies through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme has fallen for a second year running, with both the scheme’s GI provision and distribution classes seeing reduced payouts year-on…
European Commission approves Aon/WTW merger on condition of divestitures
The European Commission has approved Aon’s $30m (£22m) takeover of Willis Towers Watson, on the condition that parts of WTW’s business are divested.
Regulators mull targets, disclosures and individual accountability to spur on D&I at financial services firms
Regulators are considering a range of policy options to boost diversity and inclusion in the financial services sector, including the use of representation targets and making senior managers directly responsible for D&I within their firms.
Lloyds Bank fined £90.7m for misleading customers in home insurance renewal letters
Lloyds Bank has been fined £90.7m by the Financial Conduct Authority for failures in home insurance renewal letters between 2009 and 2017.
Insurers not bitter for time and costs lost after green card uturn as motorists will benefit
UK insurers that have issued 'thousands' of green cards and created portals and communications to allow UK motorists to continue to drive abroad after Brexit have supported the proposals to remove green cards despite the money already spent.
Pool Re launches advisory panel to explore public-private collaboration on systemic risks
Pool Re has launched an advisory group to develop recommendations for how the insurance sector can work together with the wider private sector and public sector to guard against systemic risks such as climate change and cyberterrorism.
Insurers urge government to revise height-based remit of proposed building safety regulator
Insurers have repeated their calls for the scope of the proposed building safety regulator to be broadened after the government pushed ahead with proposals that met with criticism last year.
Treasury confirms 'strong case' for Solvency II reforms to free up resource and allow UK insurers more flexibility
The government is planning to bring forward reforms to free up resource on insurers’ balance sheets and allow insurers more flexibility around investments as it rewrites the UK’s Solvency II regime.
The retail investors that sent an insurtech's stock soaring
The ‘meme stock’ phenomenon that began in January when the share price of American video game retailer Gamestop was sent soaring by non-professional investors corralling on internet forum Reddit has reached the world of insurance.
Government watching Bill to remove effects of Vnuk ruling 'with interest'
A Bill that aims to remove the effects of the European Court of Justice’s controversial Vnuk ruling from British law has been introduced to parliament.
Jensten Group adds £50m GWP with 'slam dunk' Tasker acquisition
Jensten Group has acquired Tasker Insurance Group for an undisclosed sum, adding businesses to its retail broking, wholesale broking and managing general agent divisions.
CII members push for AGM motions to suspend body's CEO and manifesto
The Chartered Insurance Institute has received a request for motions to be tabled at its annual general meeting that call for the body’s strategic manifesto to be suspended and audited and for the suspension of CEO Sian Fisher.
Markel names Wilson as Stovin's successor
Markel has appointed Simon Wilson as the next president of its international insurance division, succeeding William Stovin.
Hiscox settles arbitration with business interruption action group
Hiscox has reached a settlement in arbitration proceedings brought against it by an action group of businesses for business interruption losses suffered during last year’s first coronavirus lockdown.
Fewer lead underwriters in London market 'an inevitability', says Hiscox's Lawrence
The pool of lead underwriters in the London market shrinking over the next decade is an “inevitability”, Hiscox London Market chief underwriting officer Paul Lawrence has said.
FCA urged by Treasury Select Committee to set out timeline for culture-changing transformation
Politicians have called for the Financial Conduct Authority to set an end date for a transformation programme that seeks, among other things, to tackle the “siloed” culture within the regulator.
Dirk Wegener re-elected as Ferma president
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations has re-elected Dirk Wegener as its president, giving him another two years in the role.
Q&A: Caroline Bedford, Edii
Caroline Bedford, previously London market modernisation lead at DXC Technology, discusses her new venture Edii, the market’s innovation journey, and the skills needed to keep it moving forwards.