News
PCUK staff gain know-how to challenge suppliers
Staff at Property Consortium UK are to benefit from a new training programme that will explain how a building is put together, in order to make them better at handling claims.
Brokers face North-South divide over M&A activity
Brokers in the 'resilient South' are standing their ground when it comes to getting the price they want for a sale, creating a divide between themselves and their northern counterparts in terms of acquisition availability, it has been claimed.
Career path & CSR: Zurich director wins top Women in the City award
Zurich Insurance global underwriting technical director Jane Hayes has been named as winner of this year's insurance category at the Women in the City awards.
RSA looking for repair supplier
RSA has kicked off a tender process to find a repair supplier for its commercial property claims, Post has learnt.
Career path & CSR: Oval awarded two-star rating
Oval has received an outstanding two-star classification from Investor in Customers, an independent award body that judges companies on their ability to place the customer at the heart of their business.
A-Plan to continue branch investment after profit rise
Private-equity-backed high street broker A-Plan Holdings has insisted it will continue to invest in opening new branches where suitable opportunities exist.
Market conditions behind MD's departure
Insurer QBE has cited a shift in the market as the reason behind its reshuffle that saw property managing director Bernard Mageean depart the firm last week.
RFIB sees 13% growth
Lloyd's broker RFIB has credited its 13% growth in turnover for the year ended 30 June 2010 to the performance of its marine and reinsurance divisions.
Career path & CSR: Marsh strengthens relationship with RFU
Marsh is to support the Rugby Football Union's community rugby programme, after becoming its official insurance broker.
Foreign interest in UK firms rose over 2010
Interest from overseas in UK financial services and insurance companies has improved this year after the credit crunch caused investment and merger and acquisition activities to slow in 2009.
BGL: European aggregators on hitlist after French buy
BGL Group will look to buy more European aggregators if its purchase of Courtanet proves successful.
Fusion adds D&O and engineering
Towergate-owned underwriter Fusion is poised for a move into directors' and officers' and engineering insurance sectors in 2011.
Career path & CSR: The value of mentoring
With the economy still teetering on the edge between recession and recovery, the advice and support that mentors can give to aspiring business leaders and managers can help shape immediate business prospects and future growth. Business leaders have a…
Defra unveils 'payment for outcomes' flood scheme
Dealing with flood management in the "narrow sense of government funding" is "unimaginative and ineffective", according to the minister charged with its responsibility.
Editor's comment: A country divided?
Who knows whether it is because the Conservatives are back in power — albeit in a coalition government — but it appears that individuals in the general insurance sector are suddenly talking up a North-South divide again.
Ex-Irish PM slams tax rise demands
A former Irish Prime Minister has said that forcing Ireland to raise corporation tax from 12.5% would have been "counter-intuitive" of countries involved in bailing out the troubled economy.
RSA hunts for new UK personal lines MD
RSA is on the lookout for a new managing director of UK personal lines, following the appointment of Mike Holliday-Williams as CEO of RSA Scandinavia.
Allianz on track to eclipse £30m target
Allianz Commercial is expanding its cross-border insurance offering as part of a relaunch of its UK mid-corporate operation.
Towergate reacts to deputy CEO Blanc's departure to Axa
Towergate has responded to the news that Amanda Blanc is leaving the company to join Axa.
Towergate deputy CEO Blanc returns to Axa as commercial boss
Axa UK has confirmed Amanda Blanc will return to the firm as CEO of its commercial lines business which includes its distribution arm, Bluefin Insurance.
Chaucer ups underwriting interest in Lloyd's by 7.65% in 2011
Chaucer Holdings, the Lloyd's specialist insurance group, today announced that following completion of the Lloyd's coming-into-line process, including reinsurance arrangements, its total underwriting interests will be £707.2m for 2011.
Ageas MD Cliff slams 20-40% dual pricing differences
Mark Cliff, Ageas managing director, has criticised the market practice of dual pricing on new and renewal business and the “Christmas sales” where “slabs of increased commissions are introduced to bring in business”.
Ecclesiastical completes life business transfer
The transfer of Ecclesiastical’s ‘with profit’ and most of its ‘non-profit life’ funds to Homeowners Friendly Society took effect yesterday, following High Court approval last week.
Hardy Underwriting opens in Asia
Hardy Underwriting Bermuda Limited has announced the commencement of underwriting operations at Hardy Underwriting Asia within the Lloyd's Asia platform.