Broker
Direct Insurance Group makes COO Tom Downs multi-million pound IT investment leader
Direct Insurance has named group chief operating officer Tom Downs as the leader of a multi-million pound investment in operations and IT to widen its digital capabilities.
Clear buys Luker Rowe and HIA International
Clear Group has bought Brokerbility members HIA International and Luker Rowe, Post can reveal.
Q&A: Sharon Brown, Harbour Underwriting
Managing general agent Harbour Underwriting (formerly QLCC) last year launched after the event commercial dispute insurance to the broker market. Managing director Sharon Brown spoke to Post about what attracted her to the role and why she believes…
Big four brokers post organic growth during pandemic hit 2020
The 2020 results from Aon, Gallagher, Marsh and Willis Towers Watson showed the big four still delivering global organic growth despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, though in some cases figures for Europe, the Middle East and Africa units showed…
Bought By Many adds ex MTV HR specialist Julia Ingall as chief people officer
Pet insurance insurtech Bought By Many has appointed Julia Ingall as its first global chief people officer ahead of a recruitment drive to help international expansion.
Brightside buy first in a pipeline of deals, says Markerstudy's Humphreys
There will be no job losses from Markerstudy buying Brightside with the brand and Bristol office being kept, Gary Humphreys, group underwriting director at Markerstudy, told Post.
For the record: Brightside sold to Markerstudy; Aviva acquires Axa XL HNW team; Aston Lark buys Bruce Stevenson and Inflexion invests in broking again
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches and investments of the week
JM Glendinning buys Butterworth Spengler in first deal after Synova investment
JM Glendinning has invested in a management buyout of Liverpool-based Butterworth Spengler to become the majority owner, Post can reveal.
PI Analysis: Construction sector locked out by high rising premiums
Many companies in the construction sector are struggling to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover, with the Grenfell Tower fire and the building safety crisis key drivers of premium hardening and exclusions.
Interview: Chris Croft, London & International Insurance Brokers’ Association
After a year dominated by the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit, Liiba leader Chris Croft discusses the future of the trade association and London Market with Emmanuel Kenning, his passion for the Americas and how he got into insurance after working on rail…
Blog: Inefficient methods have hamstrung how we do business for decades – there’s no going back now
Coronavirus has kickstarted a digital drive for businesses in the City and with light now at the end of the tunnel the insurance sector cannot revert to old ways, blogs Xceedance head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa Justin Davies.
Briefing: The professional indemnity stalemate
Professional indemnity has become a problem line for the market and the sectors it serves, with shrinking capacity and stricter underwriting terms in cases leaving professions feeling left out in the cold.
Brokers urge push back on soaring contributions as FSCS levy total poised to break £1bn
Brokers have called for the insurance industry to kick back against the increase in their Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy with the sector’s bill set to more than triple to £146.8m in 2021/22.
For the record: Aviva disposals, Beazley creates digital unit, Fenchurch & Partners launches, new D&O MGA Rising Edge and Zurich invests in insurtech
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches and investments of the week
Briefing: Ex-Aviva CEO Mark Wilson's insurtech electric dreams
Mark Wilson might have not quite managed to turn Aviva into the 320 year old disruptor he had hoped, but Post content director Jonathan Swift reasons he might have more luck scratching that digital itch with his latest venture Abacai, even in a soft…
Trade Voice: Biba's Steve White on why insurance-bashing headlines won't help small businesses
Steve White, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers' Association, argues that sweeping headlines in the wake of last month's Supreme Court business interruption test case judgment haven't helped anybody.
Interview: Rob Gibbs, RSA
Having worked at RSA for more than two decades, commercial managing director Rob Gibbs has certainly seen his fair share of the business, both in the UK and overseas. He speaks to Jonathan Swift about his latest challenge, navigating a newly combined…
Aviva’s Phil Bayles on an increasing risk but a decreasing priority – a perfect cyber storm?
Businesses have been stretched and tested over the last year, and in the move to increasing their digital presence and enabling employees to work from home, they are inadvertently leaving themselves exposed to cyber criminals, says Phil Bayles, chief…
LMG starts hunt for CEO as Lebecq moves to SRG
London Market Group CEO Clare Lebecq will be stepping down at the end of April to become group chief operating officer at Miles Smith-owner Specialist Risk Group.
Allianz BI claims came from broker wordings says CEO Jon Dye as insurer reveals 2020 results
Allianz was hit by £175m of UK Covid-19 business interruption claims in 2020, net of reinsurance, the insurer has said, as LV confirmed 300 redundancies from its Legal & General integration.
For the Record: Ardonagh’s Australian M&A push; Axa in Co-op Bank tie-up; Rock diversifies with new MGA and SSP takeover gets FCA greenlight
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Record £10.5bn of M&A in 2020 and smaller deals on the up, says Imas
There was a record £10.5bn of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions in 2020, according to research by Imas, Post can reveal.
GRP strikes biggest deal since Searchlight investment with Marsh Networks buy
Global Risk Partners has agreed to buy Marsh’s UK networks for an undisclosed sum in a deal expected to close next quarter.
Interview: Rob Brown, Charles Taylor group CEO
After more than four decades spent in underwriting and broking, Rob Brown chose to try his hand at insurance services as group CEO at Charles Taylor last year. He talks to Jonathan Swift about why, given the bountiful opportunities the PE-backed firm has…