Articles by Tom Luckham
Claims costs calm but tech gaps persist for brokers
A majority of brokers are still reporting rising claims costs, but fewer say costs went up this quarter than a year ago, according to Direct Commercial’s latest Broker Barometer.
CFC appoints Jane Poole as group CFO
Former Direct Line Group chief financial officer Jane Poole will be joining CFC in September, subject to regulatory approval.
Viral sign-holding graduate secures Howden internship
Alexander Mani, a job-seeking economics graduate who stood outside the Lloyd’s building for 10 hours holding a self-advertising sign this summer, has secured an internship at Howden.
Jensten finds buyer in Bain Capital
Jensten is set to be bought by private equity firm Bain Capital, following two years of attempts to find a buyer.
Nicola George to depart Allianz Broker
Allianz Personal Broker’s managing director of personal lines will depart the business in October, the company has confirmed.
UK pet insurance viewed as most expensive in Europe
39% of UK pet insurance customers now say their costs are the highest they’ve ever been, more than double the European average, according to data from Crif.
Thomas Carroll eyes high-net-worth expansion as it combines teams
Thomas Carroll sales director Greg Edwards has told Insurance Post the group is aiming to harness its London market presence to expand its high-net-worth customer base.
Range Rover fraudster handed suspended sentence
A man has been sentenced after a failed attempt to defraud £108,700 by falsely claiming his Range Rover had been stolen and crashed after a pub crawl.
Gallagher’s M&A appetite ‘undimmed’ following AssuredPartners acquisition
Gallagher’s appetite for acquisitions has not been blunted by the completion of its $13.45bn (£9.93bn) purchase of AssuredPartners, UK CEO Michael Rea has told Insurance Post.
Karen Jackman appointed Bravo Networks MD
Karen Jackman has been appointed managing director of Bravo Networks, ending a three-month period of interim leadership by Everywhen chief commercial officer Phil Bayles.
Two in five insurers say tech platforms miss the mark
Insurers and MGAs see digital platforms as vital to their operations, yet some remain frustrated with their technology's ability to deliver, according to research from Covernet.
Repair network growth drives EV insurance rate softening
Premiums are decreasing following harsh rate increases in 2023, according to data from Consumer Intelligence.
Brokers voice concerns over non-standard underinsurance
Brokers are increasingly concerned about the risk of underinsurance in the non-standard market, as well as accelerated market softening, according to a Prestige Underwriting survey.
Verisk warns of ‘perfect storm’ in subsidence claims
Ben Blain, head of property at Verisk UK, has warned of a "perfect storm" in subsidence claims, citing increasing volumes coupled with an uptick in material costs.
Howden cuts debt costs by $8m a year
Howden has shaved 25 basis points off the margin on its $3.1bn (£2.3bn) term loan B and repriced its £765m revolving credit facility, in a move expected to save the broker around $8m (£5.9m) a year.
Uber and Freeway unveil UK driver insurance platform
Freeway Insurance and Uber have signed a five-year partnership, launching a digital insurance platform through the Uber Driver app, Insurance Post can reveal.
Sign of the times: grad’s internship plea goes viral
Alexander Mani, an economics graduate seeking an internship, spent 10 hours standing outside the Lloyd’s building with a sign advertising himself for hire – and told Insurance Post that the industry's response was “incredibly welcoming.”
Changes at the top of Clear Group as Europe CEO exits
Clear Group has announced the departure of its Europe CEO, Andreas Luberichs, following two years with the business.
Q&A: James Burns, CFC
James Burns, global head of cyber at CFC, speaks to Insurance Post about how long a soft market can stay soft, the current cyber claims environment, and the main issues facing the cyber market.
Hiscox achieves 6% UK growth and eyes double digits by 2028
Hiscox UK is on track to hit its 6% growth target for 2025 at the halfway mark, with group chief underwriting officer Joanne Musselle revealing plans for double-digit retail growth by 2028.
Big Interview: Rob Worrell, Everywhen
Rob Worrell, CEO of Everywhen, talks to Insurance Post about the firm’s rebrand, its M&A appetite, and why he thinks the industry’s rate of consolidation is sustainable.
BPL CEO steps down after 10 years
Credit and political risk insurance broker BPL’s group CEO Sian Aspinall is stepping down, with current deputy CEO James Reynolds confirmed as her successor.
Brokers flag sustainability challenges in commercial motor
Direct Commercial's latest broker barometer has revealed that commercial motor operators are adapting slowly to electric vehicle technology, particularly in the heavy goods vehicle segment.
UK only soft spot in Axa’s personal lines pricing growth
Axa Group released its first half of 2024 results this morning (1 August), revealing the UK as the only European personal lines market to report a pricing decline.