News
Sagicor eyes SME after Josephs hire
Barbados-based insurer Sagicor is targeting growth in the UK's SME space after recruiting MMA Insurance's former head of distribution Ian Josephs to launch a range of web-based products.
Agrical bolsters building claims service with hire of Gent
Yorkshire-based loss adjuster Agrical has hired Martin Gent to oversee its surveying services and building losses arm.
Drennan raises Alarm over local council cuts
Risk management should no longer be simply seen as a "little silo" within local authorities, according to a senior public sector representative.
Insurers accused of claim refusals over technicalities
More insurers are attempting to ease the financial burden of the economic downturn by repudiating claims on technical points, a specialist loss adjuster has claimed.
Keelan Westall adds more ex-Power Place know how
Property insurance broker Keelan Westall has expanded its senior team with the appointment of another former Power Place manager.
Career path & CSR: Customer focus key to Westfield win
Westfield Health has won the north of England business excellence award to place it among the UK's most outstanding businesses.
IUA and ABI to review rehabilitation code
The International Underwriting Association and the Association of British Insurers are set to consider extending the rehabilitation code beyond the immediate needs assessment as part of a new review of the guidelines.
Co-op mulls life book disposal but holds onto GI business
The Co-operative Group is keen to hold onto its general insurance book, despite moves to offload its life insurance portfolio, according to sources close to the business.
IAG UK swoops to double size of Barnett & Barnett
IAG UK-owned broker Barnett & Barnett has almost doubled its size to £50m gross written premium, with a move for a controlling stake in Bromley-based commercial and personal lines specialist NBJ.
Paraline considers acquisitions and hires following launch
New Lloyd's venture Paraline has pledged to expand its geographical reach and range of products following its official launch last week.
Cooke joins Advanta to head new energy team
Former Cunningham Lindsey engineering director Geoff Cooke has joined loss adjuster Advanta Global Services to head up its new energy team.
Amlin and JLT team up on health food cover
JLT has joined forces with Amlin UK to launch an insurance scheme for producers, importers and retailers within the health food sector.
Editor's comment: Flood battle lines drawn
If there were three words you could not escape last week, it was "government spending review". Well, I concede "Wayne Rooney" and "greed" may have been equally prominent, but it is unknown what impact the Manchester United number 10's increased wealth…
VFM tries different tack by appointing no replacement MD
VFM Services will not replace its outgoing managing director Nick Sugden when he retires at the end of the year.
Zurich director: Lord Young report needs further discussions
The insurance industry needs to work with Lord Young of Graffham to make sure his proposed health & safety code of practice is not too complex and prescriptive, according to a senior insurance figure.
Insurers face uncertainty after CPR ruling
Insurers face being hard hit by an appeal court judgment that has approved relaxing the timeframe allowed for claimants to bring personal injury cases, a leading law firm has claimed.
Industry concern as flood funding cut in spending review
Funding for flood defences has been cut in Chancellor George Osborne's comprehensive spending review. Under the previous government, £2.15bn had been committed for the years 2008-2011, however, this has been sliced to £2bn for the four years from 2011 to…
Career path & CSR: LV receives highest accolade for workplace wellbeing at CMI awards
LV's staff autonomy has helped it land the workplace wellbeing accolade at the Chartered Management Institute national management and leadership awards.
Industry tackles ghost brokers
The insurance industry is working with police to develop an educational programme to help tackle fraudulent practices by so-called 'ghost brokers'.
Career path & CSR: FSSC becomes a charity and changes name to Financial Skills Partnership
The Financial Services Skills Council has passed a special resolution to become a charity and change its name to the Financial Skills Partnership, pending confirmation from Companies House.
LAS and Rok make Ageas and Tesco panel
Ageas and Tesco Underwriting have appointed Rok and LAS to provide building repair, claims management and validation services.
KPMG welcomes Solvency II equivalence transitional measures
KPMG today welcomed the announcement by Karel van Hulle, head of insurance and pensions unit at the European Commission, of transitional measures under Solvency II’s equivalence, claiming the arrangements will be welcome news to insurance groups.
Mapfre revenues up 9.2% as net result drops 5.2%
Mapfre has revealed its revenues have increased by 9.2% in the first 9 months of 2010 - however its net attributable result has fallen in the same period.
Supply chain failure: new report
Supply chain failure is increasingly common according to a new survey from the Business Continuity Institute. The research from 35 countries shows that over 70% of organisations recorded at least one supply chain disruption in 2010.