Commercial
Analysis: Reinsurance hikes add to motor pricing pressure
The UK motor market had the unwanted title of the biggest riser in the annual global reinsurance renewal season this January, adding another reason for intense scrutiny on insurance pricing in the loss-making sector
Staveley Head enters administration after insurer contract 'prematurely terminated'
Managing general agent Staveley Head, known to have used Gefion and Qudos capacity, has entered administration.
Crawford appoints Caroline Poppleton as D&I inclusion leader in UK
Caroline Poppleton has been appointed diversity and inclusion leader for Crawford’s UK operation alongside her current role as head of business development.
Ex UK General boss Karen Beales made MD at Financial & Legal
Former UK General CEO Karen Beales has been appointed managing director of Financial & Legal Insurance, replacing Mike Timmons who has stepped down.
M&A volume grows in 2019 but mid-sized targets scarce
Exclusive: The number of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions rose from 82 in 2018 to 93 last year, driven by a surge in deals valued under £5m, industry specialists Imas Corporate Finance has revealed.
Interview: Scott Walchek, Trov
One of the original insurtech poster children, Trov recently pulled its personal lines offering in the UK and quickly followed this up by partnering with Lloyds and Halifax on renters’ insurance. Trov CEO and co-founder Scott Walchek sat down with Jen…
Insurer concerns on lenders' insurance requirements
Allianz has called on brokers to be more proactive in discussing the implications of financing agreements on clients’ insurance policies, warning that the conditions being requested by lenders are becoming increasingly onerous.
Ageas' Ant Middle on why good brokers are like chameleons
Tough trading environments are not unusual but the challenges they present have led me to reflect on what differentiates successful businesses from those that flounder. And a lot can be learned from insurance brokers, writes Ant Middle chief customer…
'Massive opportunity' for more acquisitions, says incoming GRP CEO Bruce
Global Risk Partners will continue with its focus on regional broker acquisitions, buying niche managing general agents and developing its wholesale business, incoming group CEO Mike Bruce told Post as New York-headquartered PE firm Searchlight Capital…
Searchlight to buy majority stake in GRP
Searchlight Capital Partners is buying a majority stake in consolidator Global Risk Partners.
Aon 'in position of strength' as reaches $11bn of revenue with 6% organic growth in 2019
Aon has posted a 35% leap in profit from $1.13bn (£857m) in 2018 to $1.53bn last year.
Integration headwinds hit UK growth in 2019, says Marsh
Marsh & McLennan Companies has reported revenue of $16.65bn (£12.66bn) and profits of $1.74bn for 2019.
Don't underwrite electric vehicle risks in isolation of claims: Allianz GCS practice group leader Schultz
In order for insurers to better adapt to the wider adoption of electric vehicles they need to make sure that they not managing these risks in silos, a global player has warned.
Gallagher posts 5.6% group broking and risk management organic growth in 2019
Gallagher delivered revenue and margin growth across all four UK trading units of retail broking, specialty broking, Pen Underwriting and Capsicum Re last year, Simon Matson has stated.
This week: The wait is over
The wait began in 2017, and many of us felt that the agonising limbo might never end. But after two and a half years, the wait is finally over. That’s right: Kesha’s new album is out today.
Insurtech funding hits record $6.35bn in 2019
Research by Willis Towers Watson has revealed that $1.99bn (£1.52bn) of global investment into insurtechs in the final quarter of 2019 propelled the yearly total to a record $6.35bn, a leap of 52% on the previous year.
Six insurtech start-ups to watch in 2020
It is now five years since I did my first ever 'Insurtechs to Watch Blog', when in 2016 I included Brolly, Digital Risks, Trov and Wrisk.
A matter of when, not if, for personal lines parametric insurance: Scor's Jonathan Clark
Parametric insurance is unlikely to replace conventional indemnity products, but there is a strong likelihood that it will become more widely used, even in personal lines, in the future, a conference heard.
Members voice support for Marsh’s network merger plans
Members of Marsh Probroker, Purple Partnership and Bluefin Network have welcomed the plans to combine the three into one single proposition called Marsh Networks.
People buy insurance to transfer risk, not because you are 'technologically cool': Aon claims boss Harrison
Insurers and brokers should not lose sight of the fact that customers buy insurance to transfer risk, and not because a provider has something “technologically cool,” a conference heard.
Trade Voice: Biba CEO Steve White on the ‘dark art’ of lobbying
The CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association explains how the trade body picks the topics to lobby on and how the organisation seeks to get members’ views heard by decision makers to change the landscape.
RSA aims to have 500 apprentices by 2022
RSA has pledged to double the number of apprentices in the business by 2022.
Blog: 2020 – a year of tipping points
2020 could prove to be a year of significant risk tipping points for insurers, many of them driven by fast-paced political and cultural change says Simon Laird, global head of insurance at RPC.
Hiscox to move 300 jobs across UK from London
Hiscox has confirmed it will move 300 roles out of London over the next two to three years.