Commercial
WH Smith to launch ‘digital first’ insurance lines; WTW lines up first acquisition after Aon merger collapse; Converys Europe strikes fourth deal and Higos buys in Cornwall
For the record: Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
GRP swoops for Duncan Carter from Marsh as retail CEO
Global Risk Partners has appointed Duncan Carter as retail CEO joining from Marsh UK where he was head of placement and networks.
Q&A: Caroline Wagstaff, London Market Group
In her first interview since becoming interim CEO of the London Market Group, Caroline Wagstaff explains her route to the role, delivering for government, customers, and future talent as well as how she balances the demands of the market-wide body’s post…
Swiss Re signs $10m carbon removal deal to tackle climate change
Swiss Re has partnered with Climeworks in a $10m (£7.3m) deal over 10 years to combat climate change using direct air capture and storage of carbon dioxide technology.
Zurich recruits Peter Kasahara as group chief data officer
Zurich Insurance Group has appointed Peter Kasahara as group chief data officer joining from PWC.
Ki appoints Richard Hodgson as chief technology officer
Ki, the fully digital and algorithmically-driven Lloyd’s syndicate from Brit launched in collaboration with Google Cloud, has recruited Richard Hodgson to the newly created role of chief technology officer.
Hemming bullish on growth at Aviva as survey shows solid broker optimism
Research by Aviva has shown optimism among brokers about their trading prospects for the second half of the year as the UK reopens from Covid restrictions.
Analysis: The rise and flood risk of the super basement
Post investigates the rise of 'iceberg homes' and how they have pushed up claims costs after July's London floods.
Aviva’s Adam Winslow on how insurers can help communities meet the challenges of climate change
Adam Winslow, CEO of Aviva UK and Ireland general insurance, tackles the responsibility of the insurance industry to use its expertise in risk management and prevention in taking practical action on climate change.
ABI publishes child sexual abuse claims code in response to inquiry
The Association of British Insurers has this month published a code of conduct for insurers handling child sexual abuse claims, following criticism of tactics by an inquiry.
Marsh and Citi support vaccine efforts; Hudson takes majority Occam stake; Simply Business in Barclays tie up; Aston Lark strikes Irish deal; RAC picks Premium Credit
For the record: Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Staff at risk as A-Plan owned Endsleigh opens restructure consultation
Endsleigh has confirmed that people are at risk of redundancy from its restructure plans as it opened a 30-day consultation.
Dual targeting $3bn GWP within five years after Align buy
Howden-owned Dual can create a “really unique position in the market” as a specialist underwriting managing general agent and push for substantial further growth on the back of the deal to buy US firm Align Financial, CEO Richard Clapham told Post.
Blog: Is the industry on the right road with EV training?
Dean Lander, Thatcham Research head of repair sector services, makes the case that more targeted training is needed around electric vehicle parts.
Ross Dingwall swaps Hiscox for Partners&
Partners& has recruited Ross Dingwall as managing partner for Scotland from Hiscox UK where he was distribution director, overseeing broker, direct, schemes, partnerships and marketing.
Blog: The market has strengthened in the face of pandemic claims challenges
Claims teams must be proactive coming out of the pandemic to ensure lessons learned are not lost, posits Markel UK claims and legal services director Richard Napoli.
Swiss Re appoints Jason Richards as UK and Ireland CEO
Swiss Re has named Jason Richards as country president and CEO of UK and Ireland effective 1 January 2022.
Zurich’s Peter Hamilton appointed disability and access ambassador for government disability unit
Zurich’s head of market engagement Peter Hamilton has been picked by the government to represent the insurance sector as one of 12 new disability and access ambassadors.
Willis Re buy a growth not a synergy story, say Gallagher chiefs
The up to $4bn (£2.9bn) purchase of Willis Re will be a manageable integration costing $250m over three years, according to the leaders of Gallagher.
Intelligence: The future of construction insurance
Between geopolitics, a health crisis, climate change and rising costs, it’s clear the construction industry is operating within an uncertain environment at the moment. Could evergreen policies be the answer?
Blog: Loss adjusting on the emerald isle
Craig Harris, Criterion loss adjuster, reflects on the unique challenges of loss adjusting in Ireland.
Adam Winslow hails progress at Aviva and promises more to come
Aviva has grown across all commercial lines of business and all sizes of brokers this year, UK and Ireland general insurance business CEO Adam Winslow told Post.
Aviva posts highest half year GWP in UK for a decade
Aviva has recorded £2.49bn of gross written premium in the UK for the first half of 2021 up 8% on the same period of last year as it swung back to operating profit.
Briefing: Amazon’s insurance play is not the bold move we’ve been waiting for
Amazon’s latest insurance foray won’t move mountains or topple dynasties – but bold isn’t always best.