Articles by Harry Curtis
British Steel pursues disputed claim and damages against Zurich and others
Mactavish has called for the CEOs of Zurich and Liberty to personally oversee a £30m disputed claim that it says, if paid, could save the company.
Analysis: Collapse of Lamp highlights lessons still to be learned
Gibraltarian insurer Lamp is the fifth unrated carrier to fall over in the past three years. The insolvency once again demonstrates the risks brokers take when they use unrated insurers, industry figures have warned.
Stackhouse Poland MGAs to be absorbed by Pen Underwriting
Two managing general agent businesses acquired by Gallagher as part of its recent purchase of Stackhouse Poland will eventually become part of Pen.
Insurance companies among FSCS list of defaulted firms
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has released a list of 21 failed regulated firms that defaulted between February and April this year.
Reg UK completes £2.4m funding round
Due diligence and risk management insurtech Reg UK has completed a £2.4m funding round, which it will use to continue to expands its global sales and business development operations.
Biba CEO Steve White highlights skills and AI as he opens annual conference
Steve White, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, used his conference address on Wednesday morning to highlight the need for brokers to attract young talent as the industry becomes more technologically sophisticated.
LMA names TMK's Culham, Beazley's Cox and Axa XL's Greensmith as board members
The Lloyd’s Market Association has announced three new board members following a recent board election.
Allianz operating profits rise as personal lines transfer to LV approaches completion
Allianz UK CEO Jon Dye confirmed that the transfer of personal lines business from Allianz to LV remains on-track and will be completed within three to four weeks, as the insurer announced its Q1 results.
Lloyd's launches independent workplace culture survey
Lloyd’s has commissioned the Banking Standards Board to conduct an independent survey on the workplace culture and standards of behaviour within the market.
Majority of Lloyd's syndicates exceed Q1 e-placement targets
Eight out of 10 Lloyd’s syndicates met electronic placement targets during the first quarter of 2019, according to data released by the board of the Placing Platform Limited.
Covéa appoints James Gearey as corporate development and strategy director
Covéa Insurance has appointment of James Gearey as corporate development and strategy director.
Post's Jen Frost named among UK's top young journalists
Insurance Post senior reporter Jen Frost has been named as one of the top 30 young journalists in the UK.
Lloyd's invests in cloud-based distribution platform after in-house trial
Lloyd’s has invested in an insurtech cloud-based distribution platform for small businesses, following a successful trial in the market’s tech incubator.
Gallagher and Ardonagh return to court as closing statements begin
The parties in the ongoing legal dispute between Gallagher and Ardonagh returned to the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday, as the court heard closing statements from two of the defendants.
Interview: Michael Rea, Gallagher
With Gallagher re-entering the M&A game after a four year hiatus, Michael Rea spoke to Harry Curtis about what makes a good deal, how consolidation is changing, why restrictive covenants need to be upheld and the Ardonagh court case
Broker to launch largest UK four-day week trial
Simply Business will trial a four-day working week for employees at its Northampton call centre from September.
Urban Jungle secures £2.5m in seed funding round
Urban Jungle, an insurtech targeted at “generation rent”, has raised £2.5m in a seed funding round.
Esure turns to reinsurance to improve solvency coverage
Esure improved its solvency capital coverage ratio to 149% over the first quarter of 2019, having seen it drop to 108% at the end of last year.
Regulators form working group to tackle 'phoenix' companies
Financial services regulators have formed a working group to collaborate on tackling ‘phoenixing’ in the sector, whereby companies or individuals avoid liabilities or penalties by shutting down businesses only to re-emerge as new legal entities.
Steve McGill launches new PE-backed specialty risk solutions business
Steve McGill, former group president of Aon, has launched a private equity-backed specialty risk solutions business alongside a team of other senior executives.
Lloyd's pitches automated online platform as it consults on future strategy
Lloyd’s CEO John Neal today launched a 10-week consultation on the future strategy of the insurance market, presenting six proposals that “could form the blueprint for a new Lloyd’s”.
Stephen Catlin points to 'vacuum of leadership in the London market' as he launches latest venture
Talking following the launch of new venture Convex yesterday, Stephen Catlin said “there is a vacuum of leadership in the London market”.
Spotlight on: Beazley's Birmingham office
Exclusive: Beazley opened its Birmingham office as part of a strategy to diversify away from its core US business. Fourteen months later, the office is likely to be held up as a model for the company's further expansion plans.
Catlin founder launches PE-backed specialty insurer Convex
Stephen Catlin and Paul Brand, both formerly executives at the Lloyd’s insurer that bore Catlin’s name, have launched a new specialty insurer and reinsurer with $1.8bn (£1.4bn) in initial capital.