Commercial
Broker Focus: Insurance Mediation Directive - A level playing field?
The European Commission's revision of the Insurance Mediation Directive is targeting mandatory commission disclosure, but what will this mean for UK brokers?
Ageas to build broker brands as Groupama name phased out in UK
The Groupama Insurances brand is to be phased out of the UK marketplace following completion of the insurer's sale to Ageas UK.
Ink hires ex-Towergate consultant Palmer as commercial director
Ink Insurance has appointed former Towergate sales development consultant Julian Palmer as commercial director at the Giles subsidiary.
Groupama takeover to add extra boost to 'record' Ageas profits
Ageas chief executive Barry Smith is confident that the addition of Groupama insurance activities will add further clout to performance, following nine months in which the firm's profit before tax and minority interests rose by 36.4%.
Biba to discuss introduction of code of conduct for members
Brokers across the country could soon be expected to comply with an official British Insurance Brokers' Association code of conduct.
Autonet and RSA team up for goods in transit policy
Autonet Insurance has joined forces with Royal Sun Alliance to extend their list of goods in transit providers.
Biba vows to work on providing 'one voice' following Deloitte report
The British Insurance Brokers' Association hierarchy is to form a steering committee and a timetable for consultation after a strategic review carried out by Deloitte identified a number of issues to address.
Crawford to realise superstorm Sandy claims in Q4
Crawford & Company has anticipated that superstorm Sandy will generate "significant claims" expected to materialise in the fourth-quarter results.
Bloodstock specialist signals growth plans with four signings
Specialist bloodstock and private client intermediary Weatherbys Hamilton will appoint four new partners in 2013.
Equinox Global snaps up Scandinavian senior underwriter
Trade credit specialist Equinox Global has swooped for a new senior underwriter in the form of Coface global deals executive Lars-Erik Granqvist.
Quinn Insurance founder faces nine-week jail term
Sean Quinn, the founder of Quinn Insurance, has been handed a nine-week jail sentence for contempt of court.
HSB steps up recruitment drive with double regional hire
HSB Engineering Insurance has strengthened its regional business development teams with the appointments of Daniel Maskell in London and Adam Phillips in Birmingham.
Hiscox attributes £1.2bn GWP to errors and omissions rate rises
Hiscox has reported gross written premium of £1244.4m for the nine months to 30 September 2012, a 6.4% increase on £1169.5m for the same period in 2011.
Twelve jobs at risk at the Chartered Insurance Institute
The Chartered Insurance Intitute has placed up to 12 people on redundancy consultation, Post understands.
DonFrancesco to leave Towergate
Towergate group head of marketing Marc DonFrancesco is leaving the business after six years.
Aria reaches partnership deal with Globe Med
Aria Assistance has signed a strategic partnership for the delivery of assistance services with Africa and Middle East regional healthcare business Globe Med.
Post acclaimed as the insurer trade publication of choice
Post won Financial Trade Publication of the Year at the 2012 Association of British Insurers' Financial Media Awards last night.
DLG Q3 combined ratio improves to 96.9%
Direct Line Group has reported a 4% slide in operating profit from ongoing operations for the third quarter 2012 of £123.7m compared with the same period in 2011.
Crawford names chief administrative officer for EMEA-AP
Crawford & Company has appointed Chris Pinney, pictured, as chief administrative officer for EMEA and Asia Pacific with effect from 1 November.
Transactor wins solus software contract with Midas
Midas Underwriting has selected Transactor Global Solutions as its new software supplier.
Hiscox underwriters to differentiate between brick and stone buildings
Hiscox is updating its underwriting rules on buildings cover to reflect the difference in rebuilding cost between stone and brick properties.
RSA appoints SME deals head
Russell White has returned to RSA after five years at Allianz to become head of SME deals.
US firms hit by Sandy could face claims battle
Business losses triggered by superstorm Sandy are expected to be exacerbated by the fact that few firms have policies to cover loss of income when their operations are disrupted by a supplier’s poor fortune.
Brokers rate clarity of contacts crucial amid continued insurer restructures
Axa has retained the top spot in a broker survey of insurer performances in dealing with claims, underwriting and accounts.