News
Talanx 'thoroughly satisfied' after posting €1.2bn profit
German insurance giant Talanx was "thoroughly satisfied" after increasing operating profit 21% to €1.2bn for 2011, despite a turbulent year for the eurozone and high incidences of natural catastrophes.
RSA appoints Karen Myers as UK and western Europe HR director
RSA has confirmed the appointment of Karen Myers as HR director for the UK and western Europe, a role which will see her become a member of Adrian Brown's executive team.
Ex-NY insurance superintendent calls for Solvency II equivalency
The former New York superintendent of insurance has warned that the transatlantic market could be destabilised if the Solvency II equivalency issue is not resolved.
Fitch says insurer solvency rebound does not make them safer
Rating agency Fitch has claimed that a rebound in the solvency ratios of European insurers reflects the recovery in sovereign bond markets, rather than any underlying improvement to insurers' balance sheets.
Weightmans queries H&S law bonfire
Law firm Weightmans has claimed government plans to scrap 84% of health and safety regulation will mainly involve archaic and unused laws, having little impact on insurers.
ISE 2012: Interest in cyber insurance 'overwhelming' in Europe
Speaking at Insurance Insight's inaugural Insurance Strategy Europe event, Jacob Ingerslev, European underwriting director for technology and cyber risks at CNA, said that interest from Europe in cyber crime insurance is growing rapidly.
ISE 2012: Portugal to follow Greece but sovereign defaults won’t ‘cripple’ insurers
Kurt Karl, managing director, chief economist and head of economic research and consulting at Swiss Re, has predicted that Portugal will be the next nation to default but that it will not cripple the insurance industry.
ISE 2012: France to suffer extreme temperatures due to global warming
Andreas Sterl, senior researcher at the Royal Netherlands meteorological Institute, has warned that France will be particularly affected by global warming.
Chinese government tightens insurance supervision
Administrators at Chinese state-owned insurance companies have been brought under higher-level supervision owing to the promotion of senior industry figures.
ISE 2012: Luzzi says firms must think in global terms
Opening the inaugural Insurance Strategy Europe event, Jorge Luzzi, president of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations and director of group risk management at Pirelli, told delegates that a global view is essential going forward.
CII and AMII develop health and protection insurance broker designation
The Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries and the Chartered Insurance Institute have agreed specific membership designation for health insurance and protection intermediaries - Cert CII (Health and Protection).
Talbot Syndicate 1183 makes reduced profit
Validus Holdings-owned Lloyd's insurer Talbot Underwriting has said its Syndicate 1183 made a profit 70% down at £19.5m (2010: £64.7m) on a combined ratio of 99% (2010: 90.1%).
RSA appoints new SME trading director
RSA has appointed a new SME trading director as part of what the company said is a renewed focus on the SME market.
ISE 2012: Portugal to follow Greece but sovereign defaults won't 'cripple' insurers
Kurt Karl, managing director, chief economist and head of economic research and consulting at Swiss Re, has predicted that Portugal will be the next nation to default, but that it will not cripple the insurance industry.
Allanfield expands real estate team
Property insurance broker Allanfield has named Paul Leader, left in phot, and Paul Williams, right, as managing directors of companies in the Allanfield group.
ISE 2012: France to suffer extreme temperatures due to global warming
Andreas Sterl, senior researcher at the Royal Netherlands meteorological Institute, has warned that France will be particularly affected by global warming.
ISE 2012: Luzzi says firms must think in global terms
Opening the inaugural Insurance Strategy Europe event Jorge Luzzi, president of the Federation of European Risk Management Association and director of group risk management at Pirelli, told delegates that a global view is essential going forward.
Career file: Mike Keating resurfaces at Midas
Former Axa Personal Lines director Mike Keating has taken up a new post at Midas Underwriting.
Oval and Giles management changes sign of wider consolidator shake-up
The change at the top at Oval has been a "long time coming", it was claimed this week, during a 24-hour period that saw another shake-up at rival consolidator Giles result in managing director Sarah Lyons being placed "on leave" amid "contractual issues".
Calls for telematics standardisation splits industry opinion
Rival firms raise question marks over Wunelli chairman Sandy Dunn's proposals
European sovereign debt hits insurer profits
2011 was the worst year on record for natural catastrophes, yet it was cracks in the Dow Jones, faults in the FTSE and tremors on the Hange Seng that bothered many insurers more.
Updated whiplash book proposal finds support despite reservations
Law firm Lyons Davidson is launching a campaign to republish an updated version of the whiplash book, in a bid to tackle the claims epidemic.
Career development: Tackling the issue of attracting young claims talent
For several years there has been increasing concern around the long-term resourcing of claims departments. There is clearly a need for new blood in the London claims market but, where is that going to come from?
Market moves: UK General and Towergate lead the pack
Insurer UK General and broker Towergate were the main movers and shakers this week, appointing a new chief operating officer and director of group mergers and acquisitions respectively.