Markel International
Markel promotes House in speciality division
Markel International has promoted Guy House to underwriter, covering property and open market in the firm's speciality division.
Market moves: Zurich and Mitsui continue recruitment push
Last week's busiest recruiters, Zurich and Mitsui Sumitomo, followed their recent appointments with the addition of more new staff. Mitsui has added two members to its underwriting team, while Zurich welcomed a new head of human resources.
Markel appointments aim to strengthen Italian PI team
Specialist underwriter Markel International has made two appointments in its Italian professional liability team.
Markel appoints trade credit analyst in Singapore
Markel International has appointed Rufin Majid as trade credit analyst in its Singapore office.
View from the top: German PI market open for growth
Germany's nascent professional indemnity market still lags behind those of its European peers, but it has considerable growth potential, as Frederik Wulff explains.
Market moves: IFB adds four to team
With the fight against fraud hanging in the balance, the Insurance Fraud Bureau was one of the most active recruiters this week, welcoming four new staff - including a new operations co-ordinator – into its team.
Markel makes senior appointment to cargo team
Markel International has appointed Richard Burnett as senior underwriter for cargo, part of the company's marine and energy division.
Markel CEO points to acquistion activity in Q1 results report
Markel bosses are celebrating an "all time high" on the firm's book values per share following a first quarter which produced a combined ratio improvement of 12% on Q1 2011 to 100%.
Lloyd's: Can the market fully recover from the losses in 2011?
Lloyd's' market performance and underwriting discipline has long been praised by the industry but, after the near unprecedented losses in 2011, many are wondering whether it can fully bounce back.
Markel promotes Leach to senior contingency underwriter
Specialist insurer Markel International has promoted James Leach to the position of senior contingency underwriter in its speciality division.
Markel launches into marine in Canada
Markel International’s Canadian firm Elliott Special Risks has hired a team of four marine professionals from what used to be Axa for its Montreal office.
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.
Lloyd's quartet back Asian terrorism insurance consortium
Xin Consortium, a new insurance vehicle specialising in a Asian terrorism insurance, has been launched in Singapore.
Insurance Insight – top 10 stories
The 10 most read stories from www.insuranceinsight.eu over the past seven days.
Markel acquires fine art and collectables business
Markel International has acquired the portfolio of business of Quay Underwriting, a managing agent based in Dorset, UK.
Markel buys Quay to launch into fine art
Markel International is to launch a fine art and collectibles niche range after buying Dorset managing agent Quay Underwriting's portfolio of business.
Markel opens second Malaysian office
Specialist insurer, Markel International, has opened a marketing office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in response to increased demand for specialist products from the Asian market.
View from the Top: Maritime trade, empires and insurance in Holland and the UK
The 17th century saw the Dutch and the English competing for control over the seas and trade routes, which both countries rightly saw as fundamental to their economic and political standing.
Methodology: Post Intelligence Benchmarking Finpro
One hundred and fifty-seven commercial brokers completed an online questionnaire addressing the service they got from their financial and professional lines insurers.
Post Intelligence Benchmarking Financial and Professional Lines: Positive experience
The Insurance 360 Financial and Professional Lines report found standards to be high.
Markel International combined ratio up 21% due to nat cats
Markel International reported a combined ratio of 116% for 2011, up 21% from 2010.
Markel to use investment success to target further Europe expansion
Markel finance director Andy Davies has confirmed the company will seek further European acquisitions this year on top of the German buy of Anglo Underwriting already announced.
Markel reports investment and GWP growth counters catastrophe claims
Markel International saw gross written premiums rise 16% to $825m for 2011 ($709m) but a combined ratio of 116% (95%) included $123m, or 18 points, from natural catastrophes compared with $17m, or 3 points, in 2010.
Reinsurance - January renewals: Toughen up
Despite the catastrophes of 2011, the predicted — and much needed — January renewal rate hardening has failed to materialise.