Articles by Jen Frost
Direct Line saw motor claims slide 70% in April
Motor claims notifications fell 70% at insurer Direct Line Group in April compared to the same month in 2019, as drivers stayed indoors due to lockdown measures.
Direct Line standard BI policy wordings at ‘tight end’ of the industry: CEO Penny James
Direct Line Group CEO Penny James has said 99.5% of its business interruption customers have standard policies and the insurer believes the wording is “robust” enough that it will not be liable for coronavirus-related pay outs on these.
SMEs face legal threats from same insurers that are not paying out on their BI policies
Exclusive: Insurers seeking to recoup losses from other classes, such as event cancellation and wedding insurance, are threatening policyholders involved in business interruption group actions against them with legal action.
Hiscox BI action groups join forces
The two largest Hiscox policyholder business interruption action groups in the UK have formed a strategic alliance, together representing more than 500 businesses.
Gallagher ‘wide open’ for acquisitions despite pandemic: CEO Pat Gallagher
Gallagher CEO Pat Gallagher has urged brokers “anywhere around the globe” to consider his firm as a merger partner, despite disruption posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Pandemic has ‘reinforced’ value of Aon/WTW merger: Aon CEO Greg Case
The value of the Aon and Willis Towers Watson merger has “ironically” been reinforced by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Aon CEO Greg Case said on Friday.
Aon staff have ‘embraced’ pay cuts, says CEO Greg Case
Making global pay cuts was a “collective” decision that staff have “embraced” since a Monday announcement, according to Aon CEO Greg Case.
This week in Post: Aon, dó, trí
Business interruption, the British Insurance Awards shortlist and Q1 results kept us busy this week, but it was a move by biggest-broker-in-waiting Aon that grabbed the most attention.
Double-digit Covid-19 revenue decline ‘pretty extreme’ but possible: WTW CEO John Haley
Willis Towers Watson CEO John Haley said the group could see double-digit revenue decline as a result of the coronavirus impact, as the risk giant yesterday pulled its profit guidance for the year.
Marsh and WTW decline to follow Aon’s pay cuts lead for now
Aon’s announcement that it would reduce 70% of its employees’ salaries led to some speculation that soon-to-be acquired Willis Towers Watson and rival Marsh might swiftly follow, but both brokers have since confirmed they will not follow Aon’s lead.
Pay cuts ‘an awfully blunt instrument’: MMC CEO Dan Glaser
Marsh & McLennan CEO Dan Glaser today confirmed that the group has no current plans to cut pay packets or dividends, describing salary slashing as “survival mode stuff”.
Markel confirms Olympics, Wimbledon, UK BI claims exposure
Markel yesterday confirmed its event cancellation book includes Wimbledon and the Olympics, while it will also pay out on some UK business interruption claims.
Hospitality group advised by Mishcon de Reya plots action against insurers
Axa, China Taiping, RSA, Touchstone and Zurich have been named as potential group action targets by a hospitality business interruption action group.
Hiscox mulls capital raise
Hiscox has this morning confirmed it is considering raising equity among other options as it seeks to combat the Covid-19 impact.
Blog: Aon’s plan to slash pay, preserve dividend leaves a sour taste
Aon will cut the pay of 70% of its staff and slice executive pay packets as it seeks to preserve jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, but the broking giant’s decision to go ahead with a May dividend payment seems at odds with its message.
Admiral ploughs on with year end shareholder dividend
Admiral confirmed it will recommend a final dividend for the year to shareholders, as it suspended a special dividend.
British insurers expect £900m in coronavirus BI claim payouts
Insurers are expecting to payout £900m towards UK business interruption claims, latest figures from the Association of British Insurers show.
Markel told to pay £16m damages in Braganza test dispute
A judge has ruled against Markel and ordered it to pay damages of £16m in a long-running dispute with lender UK Acorn Finance.
Nightlife trade body to coordinate claims against Hiscox on BI
The Night Time Industries Association has sought legal counsel on its members' rights on refused business interruption policies.
Whiplash reforms pushed back into 2021
Whiplash reforms, including the implementation of the claims portal, have been pushed back to April 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Axa XL proposes restructure as it reshuffles leadership team
Axa XL has revealed changes to its leadership team, with UK legal entities CEO Paul Greensmith departing and further ‘reorganisation’ expected.
Blog: Coronavirus business interruption insurance – devil is in the detail for Hiscox and others
Most businesses will not be insured for Covid-19 disruption and in many cases the wording is clear cut. But for others, the devil is in the detail and policy wordings suggest that insurers should cough up vital interim payments sooner rather than later.
Nightlife broker seeks legal advice after QBE rejects clients' Covid-19 claims
NDML Insurance Specialists, an insurance broker that caters to nightclubs, has sought legal advice after around 60 of its clients had claims for coronavirus-related closures rejected by insurer QBE, Post has learned.
Most Brits unaware of motor insurance gender ban or where it came from
Exclusive: The majority of UK consumers are not aware that insurers cannot use gender as a factor in pricing for motor insurance or where the ban came from, research commissioned by Post has shown.