Lloyd’s/London
Liberty sets sights on specialist risks
Liberty Syndicates is setting up a new underwriting team to focus on specialty products headed up by Peter Smith.
Chaucer appoints new cargo class underwriter
Specialist Lloyd’s insurer Chaucer has appointed Geoff Wilkinson, pictured, to cargo class underwriter in the marine division of Chaucer Syndicate 1084.
Travelers snaps up Chartis boss for legal role
Travelers has appointed John Abramson to head of legal and compliance for its European businesses.
Amlin reports leap in H1 profit to £184.5m
Amlin has reported profit before tax of £184.5m in the first half of this year compared to a loss of £192.3m in the first half of 2011.
QBE records 26% increase in insurance profit in H1 2012
QBE Insurance Group made an insurance profit of $965m for the first half of the year ended June 2012, an increase of $203m on 2011.
Fitch upgrades Hiscox to A+
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Hiscox Group's core entities insurer financial strength rating to A+ owing to the Lloyd's player's "track record of profitability".
Cooper Gay appoints new divisional director
Lloyd's broker Cooper Gay & Co has appointed Mike Fraser, pictured, as divisional director of the professional risks claims team.
Lockton woos another ex-Lucas Fettes broker to Manchester operation
Clare Mackay is the latest Lucas Fettes broker to join Lockton's recently formed Lloyd's and London market unit in Manchester.
XL underwriting returns to profit
XL's property and casualty business has reported a rise in gross written premium in the first six months of the year to $4.08bn compared with $3.86bn in the same period in 2011.
Torus picks Northdoor IT solution for Lloyd's integration
Global speciality insurer Torus has selected Northdoor's NDEX insurance solution to assist with its London Market and Lloyd's operations.
Equinox hires new senior credit analyst
Lloyd's cover holder Equinox Global has appointed Michelle Barnes, pictured, to the post of senior credit analyst.
Low cat activity aids Munich Re recovery
Munich Re reported a group operating result of €2.3bn in the first half of the year, compared with a loss of €437m in the same period in 2011.
Lockton opens Brighton office
Lockton has opened a new office in Brighton to service clients throughout the south east.
Kiln sells South African operation to One Financial Investment Holdings
Specialist insurance and reinsurance underwriting group Kiln has agreed to sell Kiln South Africa to One Financial Investment Holdings for an undisclosed sum.
Lloyd's launches underwriting review
The Lloyd's Market Association is reviewing the way contingent business interruption cover is written in the Lloyd's market following a string of major catastrophes last year.
Cyber crime risks on the rise
Willis has warned that "ignorance is no defence" when it comes to ensuring that companies are protected against data breaches as the risk of cyber incidents increases.
APC launches professional indemnity offering
Commercial insurance underwriting agency APC has moved into the professional indemnity market, launching its first product to protect mortgage and finance intermediaries.
JLT sells 20% stake in South African unit to investment management company
JLT has sold a 20% stake in its JLT South Africa subsidiary to Thebe Investment Corporation for £164 842 as part of a strategic long-term agreement between the businesses.
Sidley Austin advises Munich Re on £300m longevity risk deal
Law firm Sidley Austin has advised Munich Re on its assumption through reinsurance of £300m of longevity risk from Pension Insurance Corporation.
Canopius promotes Bradley to UK retail COO
Canopius has promoted Richard Bradley, pictured, to chief operating officer for its UK retail business unit.
Novae calls time on engineering and motor reinsurance
Novae is to replace 12 of the 17 Zurich-based reinsurance underwriters who exited the business earlier this year, conceding that the Swiss operation was "overstaffed".
Novae investors relieved as reinsurance team is rebuilt
Novae's swift move to rebuild its reinsurance underwriting team in Zurich following the resignation of chief executive Gunter Saacke, chief underwriting officer Will Schuerch and a number of underwriters suggests that the company remains committed to…
Novae back in profit at H1 2012 as new strategy remains 'on track'
Novae Group has this morning reported a profit before tax, foreign exchange losses on non-monetary items and non-recurring items for the first six months of 2012 of £19.6m (H1 2011: loss £30.1m).
Randall & Quilter to launch Lloyd's Syndicate 1991
Randall & Quilter Investment Holding's managing agent RQMA has been given approval "in principle" by the Lloyd’s Franchise Board to form Syndicate 1991.