Amanda Blanc
Ones to watch in 2026: Future Power List contenders
These industry leaders narrowly missed out on a place in Insurance Post’s 2026 Power List, but based on their role, career to date and growing influence look set to feature in future rankings.
Is it Time:To get some new business cards for Biba 2026?
Content director’s view: With vinyl now as popular as it was in the 80s and Pokémon never being more collectible, could physical business cards make a comeback? Jonathan Swift points to recent evidence to indicate this may be the case, but is still on…
Aviva’s UK PL premiums up by half with help from Direct Line
Aviva has today (5 March) released its 2025 financial results, boasting a 50% increase in UK personal lines revenue.
Aviva appoints Chris Cochrane as group CIO
Aviva has appointed Chris Cochrane as group chief information officer with effect from summer 2026, replacing the retiring John Cummings.
Die Hard: Who is insurance’s answer to John McClane?
Content Director's View: Putting aside the argument about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not, Jonathan Swift asks if you have ever wondered who would be the insurance equivalent to NYPD cop turned terrorist plot spoiler John McClane?
Top 100 UK Insurers 2025: Aviva
Aviva Insurance Limited is ranked number 1 and Aviva International Insurance Limited is ranked number 2 once again on Insurance Post’s Top 100 UK Insurers list.
Aviva’s Direct Line deal triggers £500 staff gift
Aviva has posted an operating profit of £1.07bn for the first half of 2025, up 22% on the start of 2024, and to “celebrate and recognise the acquisition” of Direct Line is giving £500-worth of free shares to staff in September.
What the ‘interim’ exec team means for the future of DLG?
Content Director's View: With Aviva finally getting the keys to the Direct Line Group business after the deal closed this week, Jonathan Swift asks if there are any early pointers to the direction of travel for the merged business by looking at who has…
Owen Morris named personal lines CEO as Aviva completes DLG deal
Owen Morris has been appointed CEO of Aviva’s UK personal lines business, as the insurer completes its £3.7bn deal to bring in Direct Line Group.
Insurance industry’s most powerful players revealed
Making multi-billion-pound takeover bids for rivals and challenging political posturing is what it took to secure the top spots on Insurance Post’s 2025 Power List.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk
Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, with Elon Musk as his right-hand man, created many challenges for the UK insurance industry.
Amanda Blanc, Aviva
Amanda Blanc once again wins the top spot in Insurance Post’s Power List after steering Aviva to one of the biggest takeovers in its history and annoying social media platform X owner and the US government's Department of Government Efficiency leader…
Experts find ‘shortcomings’ in Aviva tree removal evidence
A community-backed investigation into Aviva’s plans to fell a 150-year-old oak tree in Wivenhoe, Essex has identified “shortcomings” in the insurer's evidence, with multiple experts recommending underpinning of affected properties as the preferred…
Why we need women’s networks now more than ever
Editor’s View: The insurance industry needs women’s networks now more than ever, Emma Ann Hughes argues, especially given the popularity of the likes of online influencer Andrew Tate and US President Donald Trump.
When will insurance get more female leaders?
Analysis: Damisola Sulaiman highlights the barriers preventing women in insurance from attaining senior-level positions today, and questions whether the move away from diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives in the US could hamper efforts to gain…
Aviva expects mid-2025 completion on DLG deal
As Aviva announces a 57% increase in operating profit for UK & Ireland general insurance, it has given a rough timeline of when it expects to complete the Direct Line Group deal.
Did Markerstudy just set a record for shortest GI CEO stint?
Content Director’s View: Jonathan Swift reflects on the shortest stints in general insurance hot seats this century and mulls whether the CEO of Markerstudy Distribution Ian Donaldson has just beaten the previous record holder, Brendan McCafferty.
Aviva accused of ‘greenwashing’ by campaigners over tree removal
Aviva has drawn criticism from the residents of Wivenhoe, Essex, over plans to chop down a 120-year-old oak tree to tackle nearby subsidence.
Direct Line adds to top team after accepting Aviva bid
Direct Line Group has confirmed three appointments to its executive committee, shortly after reaching an agreement for Aviva to buy the business for £3.7bn.
Did insurance deserve to be snubbed by the NY Honours List?
News Editor’s View: Despite more than 1,200 names on the New Year’s Honours List 2025, leading lights from the world of insurance were hardly to be seen. Scott McGee asks if it is justified and what the sector's staff need to do to be celebrated.
Could the Aviva-DLG deal spark a personal lines M&A boom in 2025?
With Aviva and Direct Line Group’s £3.7bn merger looking like a done-deal, Insurance Post ponders what rivals could be thinking. Could 2025 be the year of a personal lines M&A boom?