Articles by Harry Curtis
Big Interview: Tom Downey, Pen Underwriting
As Pen turns 10, CEO Tom Downey sits down with Harry Curtis to outline his plans to turn the MGA into the equal of the UK’s largest insurers.
Martyn's Law receives Royal Assent
Businesses have been given two years to implement the requirements of Martyn’s Law, landmark piece of counter-terrorism legislation.
‘Boomier and bustier’ cyber market needs to grow more sustainably
Gallagher Re CEO Tom Wakefield has challenged the cyber insurance market to act now to avoid future volatility, after saying that recent cycle management had cost the class of business in terms of growth.
Pen Underwriting sets sights on £1.75bn GWP target
Pen Underwriting has set a target of increasing gross written premiums to £1.75bn by 2030, CEO Tom Downey has told Post.
ABI appoints Baroness Swinburne as chair
The Association of British Insurers has appointed Baroness Kay Swinburne as its new independent chair.
Carnegie-Brown to become Rothesay chair after Lloyd’s exit
Outgoing Lloyd’s chair Bruce Carnegie-Brown is set to become chair of pensions insurance specialist Rothesay when he leaves Lime Street at the end of the month.
Gallagher targeted senior staff with mock deepfake fraud impersonating CEO
Gallagher recently carried out an internal simulated test whereby its IT department targeted staff with an $10m (£7.7m) attempted deepfake fraud, the CEO of its reinsurance brokerage has revealed.
Allianz Trade appoints Matt Williams as UK&I CEO
Allianz Trade has named Matt Williams as its next UK and Ireland CEO, succeeding Sarah Murrow, who is set to leave to head up the insurer’s Americas business in July.
Lloyd’s convenes conflicts committee to navigate Neal’s exit
Insurance Post understands Lloyd’s has convened a conflicts committee, chaired by Lloyd’s chair Bruce Carnegie-Brown, to manage potential conflicts of interest around Aon-bound CEO John Neal.
Government urged to do more to boost cyber resilience
The government should be doing more to boost the UK’s cyber resilience, figures at broker Marsh and insurer Zurich said at a recent panel discussion on closing the cyber protection gap.
Professional indemnity insurers unable to price for genAI exposure
While claims seem inevitable, professional indemnity insurers are currently bearing an unpriced exposure to the use of generative artificial intelligence, RSA’s UK head of PI has told Insurance Post.
Allianz appoints commercial lines leaders ahead of new MD’s arrival
Allianz’s UK commercial lines arm has made two appointments to its management team ahead of the arrival of new managing director Phuong Ly next month.
21 businesses vie for a place in latest cohort for Lloyd’s Lab
The Lloyd’s Lab held a pitch day for its 14th cohort earlier this week, with 21 businesses vying for a spot in the 10-week accelerator programme.
Blueprint Two’s first phase pushed back to 2026
Lloyd’s and Velonetic have confirmed the phase one cutover for the London market’s Blueprint Two modernisation programme will not take place this year.
Ecclesiastical enjoys ‘record new business’ in 2024
Ecclesiastical’s expansion into new sectors helped it achieve “record new business wins” in 2024, as it nearly doubled its pre-tax profit from the previous year.
Lloyd’s CFO urges market not to get ‘carried away’
Lloyd’s chief financial officer Burkhard Keese has warned the market that it is not yet out of the woods, as it posted pre-tax profits of £9.6bn for 2024.
IUA announces Matcham successor
Dave Matcham, the long-serving CEO of the International Underwriting Association, will step down at the end of the next month and is set to be succeeded by Chris Jones.
Q&A: Steve Bramall, Allianz Trade
Steve Bramall, credit director for the UK and Ireland at Allianz Trade, tells Post how the insurer is adapting for uncertain times, what a second Trump presidency means for UK businesses, and why more claims isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Probitas reports ‘best-ever result’ after Aviva acquisition
Aviva’s Lloyd’s vehicle Probitas has reported its “best-ever result” for 2024, posting pre-tax profit of £62m.
Worst fears of a North Sea spill averted
The worst case scenario in terms of an environmental liability loss following the collision of two ships in the North Sea looks to have been averted.
Pool Re opens consultation on SME terrorism cover
Pool Re has launched a consultation on the potential to reintegrate terrorism as a standard covered peril in SME policies.
New business drives Lloyd’s growth in 2024
Lloyd’s has trailed its 2024 results, revealing that gross written premiums across the market hit £55.5bn by the end of last year.
Court of Appeal overturns judgment in favour of insurer
The Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court judgment in favour of insurers, providing a clarification on the how the courts will interpret the Insurance Act (2015).
Aviva creates dedicated commercial combined underwriting team
Aviva has put together 16 of its most experienced underwriters in a dedicated commercial combined underwriting team as it looks to give brokers the confidence to place larger, more complex risks online.