People
Q&A: Megan Bingham-Walker, Anansi & Sarah Wernér, Husmus
With less than 0.5% of venture capital funding going to Black-led start-ups, Frances Stebbing speaks to two recipients of the Black Founders Fund to find out why this initiative is so important and how it helped their business.
How Link’s co-founder was warned being gay would hinder his career
Erik Johnson, active underwriter at MIC Global Syndicate 5183, on the prejudice he faced as a gay man entering the insurance industry and how he ignored warnings pushing for inclusion could hinder his career to co-found Link.
Flock raids industry in flurry of exec hires
Insurance Post can reveal that commercial motor fleet insurtech Flock has completed a series of senior hires, taking top executives from multiple insurers, including Hiscox and Mulsanne.
Podcast: How inclusivity drives innovation – Part 2
In the second of two specially recorded podcasts to mark the ninth Dive In festival, Aviva’s Jonny Briggs and the ABI’s Liisa Antola share what insurers can do to achieve inclusive innovation.
Sedgwick’s Armstrong on bringing your authentic self to work
Suzanne Armstrong, deputy head of key accounts at Sedgwick in the UK, on how a female colleague being denied compassionate leave spurred her on to be her authentic self at work and break down LGBTQ+ barriers.
Big Interview: Dame Inga Beale
As the ninth Dive In festival kicks off, Dame Inga Beale tells Emma Ann Hughes she doesn’t see the greater diversity, inclusion and modernisation she pushed for as Lloyd’s first female CEO as her legacy — but as her continuing mission.
Podcast: How inclusivity drives innovation – Part 1
Specialist Risk Group’s Clare Lebecq and Davies Academy’s Carolyn Blunt talk about what their businesses are doing to create a culture of inclusive innovation.
How Johnny Timpson refuses to let disability define him
Former Cabinet Office Disability Ambassador Johnny Timpson and winner of Insurance Personality of the Year at the British Insurance Awards explains how he works with a musculoskeletal impairment plus his neurodivergence to make the industry more…
Eight out of 10 claims handlers have dealt with a distressing case
Four out of five claims handlers have suffered second-hand trauma from dealing with distressing claims, such as fatal fires, according to research undertaken by the Chartered Insurance Institute’s New Generation group.
Steps industry needs to take to retain Generation Z
Data analysis: Insurers need to ditch the marketing spiel and demonstrate what they are doing about artificial intelligence, climate change, and inclusion, if they want to appeal to Generation Z.
Q&A: Katherine Conway, Aon
Ahead of Dive In’s ninth festival, Katherine Conway, global inclusion lead at Aon, speaks to Frances Stebbing about how she got involved with the initiative and what to expect from this year’s event.
CII reveals who scored top marks in insurance exams
Marsh, Axa, Gallagher, Zurich, Allianz, QBE, RSA, NFU Mutual and Hiscox employees were among those who scored the top marks in Chartered Insurance Institute exam and coursework submissions in 2022.
Are the City’s insurers struggling to stay sober?
Analysis: Frances Stebbing explores how the City of London’s drinking culture has been challenged and whether the sector finally recognises it needs to allow people the option to wake up as fresh as a daisy if it wants to attract and retain fresh talent.
Is remote working right for the insurance industry?
Editor’s View: Following the firing of an insurance employee whose keystrokes showed she wasn’t working enough from home, Emma Ann Hughes considers whether remote working is suitable for fresh entrants to the industry.
Furness appointed as Motor Repair Network MD
Former Covéa Insurance boss Adrian Furness has been appointed as managing director of Motor Repair Network.
Four ways Generation Z can climb the insurance career ladder
"F**k being humble", "turn off your notifications", and "know your goals" were just three of the suggestions given to hundreds of members of Generation Z who attended iCan’s Elevate conference on Friday.
View from the top: Aon’s Helen Payne on human sustainability
Helen Payne, UK director of human sustainability at Aon, outlines what steps firms are taking to look after their employee's wellbeing.
Q&A: Tim Hardcastle, Instanda
Tim Hardcastle, co-founder and CEO of Instanda, speaks to Frances Stebbing one year after the startup’s latest fundraising round about upcoming trends in the software development industry and how the company is applying AI within the business.
Marsh appoints Nick Harris as CEO of UK retail
Marsh has hired Nick Harris as CEO of UK Retail, effective from 1 January 2024, subject to regulatory approval.
Details of Dive In Festival 2023 revealed
Registration for Dive In, the insurance industry’s festival promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, is now open via diveinfestival.com.
Simon McGinn appointed Dual UK CEO
Simon McGinn has been appointed as CEO of Dual Group’s UK business, as the Howden-owned managing general agent looks to more than double the premium it writes.
Diary of an Insurer: HSB's Mat Prentice
Mat Prentice, cyber product leader at HSB, navigates 5am starts and studying in the evening while juggling training and presenting on the eve of a well-deserved family holiday.
Direct Line to refund £30m to overcharged home and motor customers
Direct Line has agreed to a past business review after the FCA found it had breached dual pricing rules, having charged some customers at renewal more than if they were a new customer.
Direct Line ordered to pay £65,000 for discrimination against menopausal employee
An employment tribunal has ordered Direct Line to pay close to £65,000 to a former employee after finding the insurer breached the Equality Act (2010) in 2021.