Opinion
Trade Voice: Airmic’s Julia Graham on the D&O market
As premium rates for directors' and officers' rocket, Airmic deputy CEO and technical director Julia Graham says insurers need to wake up and innovate if they wish to prevent a flight to alternative risk financing by insureds.
Briefing: "Alexa, do voice assistants have a future in insurance?"
As Confused launches an Alexa Skill that allows customers to get quotes from their Amazon Echo, Post content director Jonathan Swift asks other insurers about their experience of voice assistant technology to see if it is merely a gimmick - or has a…
Hiscox’s Ross Dingwall on building relationships
It takes more than a Webex call to build the relationships the insurance industry thrives on, says Ross Dingwall, managing director – broker channel at Hiscox UK.
Briefing: Compare the Market fine a fitting end to a sorry chapter
“Ridiculous”, “harmful”, “anti-competitive”. These were the words used by Money Supermarket managing director of financial services Graham Donoghue to describe wide ‘most favoured nation’ clauses during a Competition Commission hearing back in 2013.
Covéa’s Lisa Meigh on staying connected in the new workplace
Lisa Meigh, people director at Covéa Insurance, shares her learnings about remote working during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and gives her opinions on working practices of the future.
Briefing: As Covid pushes Biba 2021 online, a death knell sounds for 'in-person only' conferences
Last week the British Insurance Brokers’ Association followed others' footsteps as it moved its 2021 conference online. Post news editor Jen Frost considers the future of events.
Trade Voice: Biba’s Steve White on walking the reputational tightrope
British Insurance Brokers' Association CEO Steve White reflects on the reputational tightrope the insurance sector has found itself atop and the need to assuage consumers' mistrust.
Briefing: Is RSA's sale to an overseas bidder a sign of the UK’s declining stature as a global insurance player?
With RSA poised to be sold to a consortium of a Danish and Canadian investors, the number of internationally recognised UK-domiciled insurers is set to reduce by one. Post content director Jonathan Swift asks: is it time to dust off plans for the Royal…
GRP’s Mike Bruce on broker M&A speeding up in Covid-hit UK
The level of broker consolidation has risen again this year, says GRP’s group CEO Mike Bruce as he predicts more investments to come from long-term investors with vendors keen to sell due to pandemic uncertainty, rumoured tax changes, strong valuations…
Briefing: The Seven Year Pitch - Why has it taken Stephen Hester so long to sell RSA?
Almost seven years after he took over as group CEO, Stephen Hester looks like he is finally closing in on a sale for RSA. The big question, as Post content director Jonathan Swift asks, is why has it taken so long?
Briefing: BI test case verdicts and appeals broken down – In pursuit of clarity
As the search for lesser-spotted clarity continues, simple confirmation from the regulator on which business interruption wordings are being contested, and by who, is a welcome aid.
Editor's comment: Living at work
Last month at a Post virtual conference on the Future of Work I heard from a panel that mental health has now reached the top of the corporate agenda.
Ageas’ Ant Middle on social responsibility
While the pandemic has brought heartache in so many forms, it has also ignited real positivity through the ways people have supported one another like never before, says Ant Middle CEO of Ageas UK.
Pen Underwriting’s Tom Downey on data quality and the need for collective responsibility
Tom Downey, CEO of Pen Underwriting, sets out why data quality is the key battleground of today that no-one in the insurance industry can afford to lose.
Briefing: False hope is no antidote - a business interruption appeal is still firmly on the table
The world is devoting a lot of energy into finding a vaccine or ‘cure’ for Covid-19. We should know by now that false hope is not an antidote.
Briefing: ERS' commercial push - a perfectly timed diversification
With the news that ERS is planning to enter 'specialist commercial' lines, Post content director Jonathan Swift asks if we can get any insights into what that might mean by looking at previous diversification plays, recent appointments and its IT…
Zurich’s Anita Fernqvist on embedding sustainability in organisational transformation
Anita Fernqvist, chief data officer and director of operations at Zurich UK, argues that advances in and adoption of new technology means reskilling for the future is more important than ever and looks at the opportunities and challenges for insurers.
Rising Star: Victoria Kancheva, Clear Insurance Management
Three months after leaving behind a career in rights of light surveying for a new challenge in insurance broking, Victoria Kancheva was placing million-pound policies at Clear Insurance Management.
Briefing: The BI test case – QIC’s failed intervention and the ‘spirit of co-operation’
The business interruption test case is meant to be about co-operation to find clarity. Qatar Insurance Company’s attempt to intervene has rocked the boat.
Aviva’s Phil Bayles on trading in a hard market
As trusted advisors providing access to high quality risk management resources brokers can help clients meet the challenges that lie ahead and should be in contact with insurers as early as possible to review cost and cover options, says Aviva’s chief…
Brightside’s Brendan McCafferty on why the insurance industry needs to get real on its social contract
The insurance industry needs to find the right answers quickly if it is going to rebuild its reputation with the public, particularly after the recent business interruption court case and dual pricing headlines, says Brightside CEO Brendan McCafferty.
Editor's comment: What a difference a year makes
I’m a firm believer that even when you are facing your darkest days things will be better on the other side and good things will always follow.
RSA’s Adele Sumner on the evolving challenge of fraud during the pandemic
Adele Sumner, head of counter fraud strategy and financial crime at RSA, details how fraudsters have been diversifying their techniques during the coronavirus pandemic and the steps insurers can take to fight the scams.
Trade Voice: Sam Elsby, Apil
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers president Sam Elsby reflects on the need for collaboration between the representatives of claimants and defendants to ensure the best outcomes for injured people, both during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.