Articles by Harry Curtis
Former GCHQ director joins Cyber Monitoring Centre
The Cyber Monitoring Centre has appointed former GCHQ director general for technology, Gaven Smith, to its technical committee.
Zurich and Freedom Services partnership targeting £50m GWP in year one
Zurich UK has penned a five-year deal with managing general agent Freedom Services under which the insurer will provide capacity for an existing commercial vehicle book as well as a fresh telematics play.
Three takeaways from Zywave’s Cyber Risk conference
Price adequacy may be under pressure in the cyber insurance market and there are “seismic shifts in buying behaviour” in the reinsurance market, according to experts gathered at Zywave’s Cyber Risk conference.
Cyber insurance procurement process labelled ‘a disaster’
Onda chief underwriting officer Alex Jomaa has dubbed the procurement process for cyber insurance “a disaster”, and said that both brokers and underwriters need to change their ways to boost the number of businesses that buy the product.
RSA still unsure on combined NIG business brand
RSA CEO Ken Norgrove has said the future brand of the combined RSA and NIG business is an open question, in an update to brokers.
Integration and restructuring costs push RSA to 2023 loss
RSA has reported a £19m pre-tax loss for 2023, despite improving on both its 2022 underwriting and investment performance.
Mandy Hunt named as MD of Clear Group MGAs
The Clear Group has appointed former RSA chief underwriting officer Mandy Hunt as managing director of its managing general agent business.
Direct Line’s chief customer officer Kate Syred retires
Direct Line Group’s chief customer officer Kate Syred has retired after more than 20 years at the insurer, Insurance Post can reveal.
Big Interview: Jon Dye, Hiscox
Jon Dye, CEO of Hiscox UK, sits down with Harry Curtis to discuss the business’s growth prospects, its ongoing digital trading efforts and new look C-suite.
CII consulting on cutting ‘around eight’ roles
The Chartered Insurance Institute is planning to cut its headcount by “around eight posts” as part of streamlining efforts.
QBE eyes growth opportunity in ‘underweight’ South East
QBE director of UK regions Andy Fitzgerald has identified the South East as a “massive” growth opportunity for the insurer as it aims to bulk up its UK regions business.
Lloyd’s appoints Miller as US-based chief commercial officer
Lloyd’s has appointed its commercial director Dawn Miller as chief commercial officer and CEO of Lloyd’s Americas, effective 1 September, in a move that will see her relocate to New York later this year.
Aviva revamps financial lines management and pushes into Scotland
Aviva has announced several new hires in its financial lines team, including underwriters that expand its presence into Scotland.
RSA appoints trading directors ahead of NIG integration
RSA has appointed Moira Spencer and Deena Hemming as trading directors for the North and South respectively, ahead of the integration of NIG next month.
Businesses unprepared for incoming anti-terrorism law
Over three quarters of businesses aren’t confident that they will be able to comply with new anti-terrorism requirements, according to research by Gallagher.
Crawford’s Benedict Burke announces retirement
Benedict Burke, chief client officer at Crawford & Company, has announced he will retire at the end of June.
RSA’s UK specialty book expected to surpass £1bn by 2030
RSA’s managing director for UK specialty lines, Steve Watson, expects the size of the business he heads to double by the end of the decade primarily through building out new capabilities.
Lloyd’s confirms Blueprint Two delay alongside 2023 results
The first phase of Lloyd’s of London’s digitalisation programme Blueprint Two will now be rolled out in October, CEO John Neal has confirmed, as the market revealed profits before tax of £10.7bn for 2023.
Lloyd’s lands another big name entrant in Fidelis
The Fidelis Partnership has been granted in principle approval by Lloyd’s to launch a syndicate, in collaboration with Fidelis Insurance Group and Hampden Agencies – the largest provider of private capital to Lloyd’s.
Pool Re to adopt more flexible treaty model in 2025
Pool Re members and the Treasury have backed proposals for the government-backed terrorism reinsurer to adopt a treaty model from next spring.
AIG appoints ex-Aviva boss Patrick Snowball as NED
AIG UK has appointed former Aviva executive and Sabre chairman Patrick Snowball as an independent non-executive director.
Axa recruits Tombs to head up SME business
Axa Commercial has appointed former Zurich head of SME Paul Tombs as director of its SME intermediary business.
Ecclesiastical teases expansion into ‘new and exciting’ sector
Ecclesiastical has reported an underwriting profit of £24.5m for 2023, down 22% on its 2022 result of £31.5m.
Turbulence in the aviation insurance market
Between the aftershocks of a global pandemic and the spectre of losses resulting from the seizure of aircraft in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, Harry Curtis explores how the 2020s got off to a turbulent start for aviation insurers.