Commercial
Aon's Jane Kielty on providing local service to international SMEs
As SMEs in the UK face increasingly complex insurance needs, Jane Kielty, managing director, national at Aon Risk Solutions, reflects on how the industry can respond to these.
Analysis: Product recalls: Bringing it back
Whether it’s a tumble dryer that catches fire or baby milk that’s contaminated with salmonella, an increase in safety concerns is putting product recall insurance in the spotlight. With the frequency and severity of claims on the up, there are concerns…
Marsh's Lei Yu on the right cover in the age of product recalls and class actions
While the US has led the consumer rights crusade against defective products, other countries are becoming increasingly protective, writes Lei Yu, managing director, Marsh Hong Kong and Macau.
EC report recommends adapting Solvency II
The European Commission and Insurance Europe have welcomed a report that suggests adapting Solvency II to facilitate sustainable investment.
Editor's comment: An explosive start to the year
I started this year in style watching the fireworks over Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland Paris. Looking at January’s headlines the insurance industry has also started this year with a bang.
Interview: ABC Investors - Bunker, Cassidy, Castle, Horton and O’Roarke
With their restrictive covenants expiring at the end of 2017, the former LV general insurance management are now free to re-enter the market. Jonathan Swift speaks to the quintet about their new consortium ABC Investors, digital innovation and what it…
QBE's Phil Dodridge on navigating the digital tempest
Threatened with disruption, insurers need to augment their business model, argues Phil Dodridge, head of business intelligence and disruption at QBE European Operations.
Romero Group sees 14% Ebitda growth for 2016/17
Leeds-based Romero Group saw adjusted Ebitda increase 14% to £2.7m in the year to 30 April 2017.
Former AIG UK boss Jacqueline McNamee returns with insurtech MGA
Jacqueline McNamee, former managing director of AIG in the UK, is to return to the market fronting a new Insurtech start-up.
GRP acquires Country & Commercial Insurance Brokers
Global Risk Partners has acquired a majority interest in agricultural brokerage Country & Commercial Insurance Brokers.
This week: Technology, treasury and trade credit
I'm not sure who was more excited about technology in our house this week, my son discovered that virtual pets in the form of Tamagotchi are making a comeback in the UK this year while I learnt a bar has opened where robots make you cocktails.
Cyber MGA Ascent Underwriting acquired by Preservation Capital Partners
Preservation Capital Partners has acquired cyber and specialty lines managing general agent Ascent Underwriting.
Analysis: A changing investment climate
Insurers are increasingly finding themselves under pressure on three fronts when it comes to climate change – as underwriters, as major investors and as large employers with their own substantial carbon footprints. That pressure is about to intensify.
Analysis: Soft reinsurance renewals dash hard market hopes
After five consecutive years of falling rates, global property-catastrophe reinsurance experienced upward pricing pressure at 1 January renewals.
Ten insurtech start-ups to watch in 2018 - part two
Today we feature a second quartet of businesses with their eye on the disruption prize, all of which will be worth watching out for as the year progresses.
Ten insurtech start-ups to watch in 2018 - part one
There does not appear to be any slowdown in the number of insurtech start-ups that are aiming to mark their mark on the insurance sector.
Drone usage in insurance claims faces cyber and regulatory challenges
Inconsistent regulations and risk of hacking are among the challenges that need to be overcome as loss adjusters are increasingly using drones to assess insured damage, said Nick Barber, head of property & energy claims - Europe at AIG.
Some insurtech investment doesn't make sense, conference hears
Some investment criteria into insurtech start-ups “don’t make sense over time”, said Neil Harrison, global head of claims at Aon Risk Solutions, warning against “innovation that is going to cause dissatisfaction”.
Blog: Grenfell shows construction details need to be fully disclosed to insurers
Building regulations are being reviewed in the wake of the deadly Grenfell fire and Neil Clutterbuck, chief underwriting officer at Allianz, points out construction details need to be fully disclosed to insurers.
JLT Specialty’s Adrian Donald on speaking CFOs’ language
Risk managers need to speak the same language as chief financial officers to demonstrate the value of insurance, explains Adrian Donald, partner at JLT Specialty.
Solicitors PI market takes off in Italy
The recent introduction of compulsory insurance requirements for Italian law firms is yet another milestone for the country’s rapidly growing professional indemnity insurance market, explains Massimiliano Colombo, regional underwriting manager at QBE…
Liberty appoints head of European claims
Liberty Specialty Markets has appointed Renske Franken-le-Clercq as head of European claims for commercial and specialty business written in LSM’s European branches outside London.
![CEO Erik Abrahamson [front far right] and Digital Fineprint raise £2m](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480_296/public/2018-01/Digital%20Fineprint%20team%20photo.jpg.webp?itok=TIOIEttH)
Digital Fineprint CEO hails 'insane' year after £2m investment
Insurtech start-up Digital Fineprint has closed a second ‘venture’ investment round by raising $2.7m (£2m) lead by a firm that includes Nutmeg and Fan Duel among its portfolio.
Legal Update: What insurers need to know about harassment claims
As the number of harassment claims increases, insurers should consider whether they're best covered under general liability policies or specialist employment policies, recommends Joe McManus, partner at Kennedys.