Rias
Ageas x RAC; Starr buys ERS-owner; Allianz's distribution director
Friday Round-Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
What next for Primary Group in the UK after Policy Expert sale?
Content Director’s View: Jonathan Swift reflects on what the future might hold for the Primary Group in the UK after the sale of Policy Expert left it with only one significant investment in the local market.
Digital Bar Quarterly: How can insurers optimise a multibrand strategy with greater UX differentiation?
Insurance companies replicating their quote and buy journeys across multiple brands are missing significant opportunities. Jamie Bayliss, consultant at Altus Consulting, shares his observations and outlines how they could overcome this efficiently…
Digital Bar Quarterly: Revealed, the insurer brands driving standards in usability
This month benchmarking service Digital Bar launched usability assessments for UK direct insurer brands alongside its latest digital capability rankings. Simon Fenn, co-founder of its partner Pancentric, gives a high-level view of usability standards…
Briefing: With the sale of its commercial book to Axa, Ageas has gone full circle to return its old self again
Post content director Jonathan Swift looks at the journey Ageas has been on over the last 13 years and concludes it has done an awful lot - but now looks more like its 2009 incarnation than ever.
Ageas Retail posts falling revenue but rising profit for 2020
Ageas Retail, which includes the Ageas Direct and Rias brands, has reported an 11% drop in revenue to £76m in 2020 with volumes being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
LV tops Aviva, Churchill, Nationwide and Saga to win customer service crown according to ICS
LV has again been ranked the top insurance organisation in the UK by the Institute of Customer Service in its biannual UK Customer Satisfaction Index, although the gap at the top between it and the chasing pack has been reduced.
Interview: Janet Connor, The AA
A lot has changed at the AA in the five years since Janet Connor, now director of insurance, joined the organisation. She explains to Jonathan Swift how an investment in data and technology – alongside the relaunch of its insurance company and board…
Lemans steps up as interim Ageas Retail Direct MD as Corfield departs
Ageas has named retail finance director Nick Lemans as interim managing director for Ageas Retail Direct following Peter Corfield’s decision to exit the role.
Sun Life launches into GI market with appointment of Stanney
Ex-Castle Cover products director Simon Stanney has been hired to spearhead Sun Life’s foray into the general insurance market.
Rias warns against lack of cover for summertime lightning strikes
Homeowners should ensure their properties are adequately covered against the threat of summer lightning strikes, over-50s insurance specialist Rias has advised.
Rias founder Holden eyes £50m GWP with start-up broker
The founders of over 50s insurer Rias and Insure 4 Retirement have launched a Hampshire-based direct to consumer broker with the expectation of surpassing £50m in annual written premiums within five years.
Insurance business crucial to future growth at the AA, claims Connor
AA Insurance Services managing director Janet Connor believes her recent appointment serves to highlight the growing emphasis the AA places on insurance.
Motor customers paying up to 90% APR for monthly instalments
Motor insurance customers are being charged annual interest rates of up to 90% for choosing to pay in monthly instalments rather than an annual sum, according to research.
More Than MD Connor departs to lead AA Insurance
The AA has hired More Than managing director Janet Connor to take on the newly created role of MD of its insurance business.
Rias repositions with TV advertising campaign
Over 50s insurer Rias has launched a TV advertising campaign 'Where experience counts’ to reflect the modern face of the UK’s 23 million over 50s.
Q&A: Andy Watson: Happy days
Andy Watson reflects on his short time in charge of Ageas UK and discusses market issues, including the referral fees ban, regulation, telematics and recent job cuts in the sector.
Market Moves: Ageas plans stronger over-50s push; Biba welcomes new compliance officer
Insurers and brokers took pride of place in the recruitment space this week, with Ageas among the firms making waves, hiring a new marketing boss to head up its over-50s brands. Headlining broker recruitment news is the imminent move from Marsh to the…
Ageas to become sole provider for over-50s intermediary brands
Ageas-owned over-50s specialist intermediaries Rias and Castle Cover are moving from using a panel of insurers for home and motor products to a solus arrangement with sister business Ageas Insurance.
Barry Smith steps up to Ageas group role as Watson becomes new UK CEO
Ageas UK CEO Barry Smith has been promoted to a new Ageas group role of chief operating officer.