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Aviva completes €130m Friends First acquisition
Aviva Ireland has completed the acquisition of life insurer Friends First for €130m (£116m) after receiving regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Ireland.
Analysis: Back to the insurance future
The starting question had far reaching implications: “In 2030, what will the world need protecting from?” To answer that, five cross-industry teams explored the issues involved in an industry innovation challenge.
Allianz takes 8% stake in Africa Re
Allianz is to take an 8% stake in Africa’s leading reinsurer Africa Re.
Berkshire becomes third-largest reinsurer on back of AIG deal
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway became the world's third-largest reinsurer in 2017, ending European dominance over the top four.
Rising star: Claire Tyler, Allianz
Claire Tyler cut her teeth in insurance during the management trainee graduate programme at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. From there, she entered the Allianz claims graduate scheme and worked her way up to become a senior claims handler
Uniqa's Andreas Brandstetter named president of Insurance Europe
Andreas Brandstetter, the CEO and chairman of Austria’s Uniqa Insurance Group, has been elected president of Insurance Europe, the European insurance and reinsurance federation, for a term of three years.
Zurich provides numeracy training to Birmingham pupils
Zurich is partnering with Holly Lodge High School in Smethwick, near Birmingham, to deliver financial literacy training.
Ageas' Bart De Smet on the limitations of quarterly reporting
Quarterly results don't always reflect a company's performance, notes Ageas CEO Bart De Smet, explaining why the focus must be on its consistency over time.
Avantia places up to 30 roles at risk in outsourcing move
Exclusive: Avantia Insurance is in the process of relocating frontline roles to Sheffield, placing between 20 to 30 jobs at risk.
Hastings staff to get instant customer feedback
Hastings Direct is rolling out a customer sentiment platform that will give its staff real-time access to their own customer feedback.
Allianz to gain £250m commercial book from LV deal
Insurance giant Allianz will gain a commercial book worth £250m from LV following its purchase of 49% of LV’s general insurance business.
Interview: Ali Crossley, BGL
In less than a year in her new role as managing director for Junction and BGL Customer Services, Ali Crossley has helped implement more than 100 digital improvements across the group's brands.
Peter Cullum-backed Lexicon targets growth with Oasis buy
Peter Cullum-backed Lexicon Property has acquired Oasis Property Insurance Services.
Boyd Insurance snaps up Scottish broker
Boyd & Company has acquired independent insurance broker, Insureness.
Airmic’s John Ludlow on why diversity and equality have become a business imperative
John Ludlow, CEO of the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers, on lessons learnt the hard way and why diversity makes good commercial sense.
Career development: Zurich increases volunteering leave for employees
Zurich is increasing the number of days employees can volunteer from one to three in a year.
Gallagher eyes up multiple acquisition targets in H2
Gallagher is poised to return to acquisition with the broker expecting multiple broker purchases before the end of the year.
Gallagher returns to acquisitions with Risk Services deal
Gallagher has acquired regional commercial insurance broker Risk Services, its first UK broking acquisition in almost four years.
Interview: Faizal Karbani, CEO, Insure Halal
Halal Insure has recently launched sharia-compliant household insurance covers. Its CEO Faizal Karbani speaks to David Worsfold about his hopes for takaful insurance in the UK.
Arista boss takes role at Axa commercial
Axa commercial has named former Arista managing director, Nick Watson, as director of commercial distribution and trading.
Lloyds Bank insurance boss Bill Cooper leaves role
The head of insurance at Lloyds Bank, Bill Cooper, has left the business.
Blog: Vicarious liability's elastic boundaries continue to be stretched
Vicarious liability's elastic boundaries continue to be stretched, explains David Williams, insurance partner at DAC Beachcroft.
Penny Black's Social World - May 2018
Dolls house and dinner, endurance and experience
Zurich ex-UKGI boss Conor Brennan becomes CEO of Irish broker
Exclusive: Zurich’s UK general insurance boss Conor Brennan has left the business.