Post - 2010-03-25
Articles in this issue
Flood claims - Drainage Systems: When drains go bad
Floods are headline-grabbers but as Jane Bernstein reports, rivers are only part of the problem and new legislation aims to solve the issues concerning sewers and drains.
Typical day: Burlesque shows and cock fighting
Post has unearthed the centuries old diary of Daul Ponaldson, Sun Insurance employee, now into his second day at the Great British Insurance Brokers' Association conference in 1710.
View from the top: A makeover of the mind
The insurance industry has an image problem. If it were a celebrity, it would take more than just a nip and tuck and some botox to transform its wrinkled reputation with the paying public.
Letter - Teenage Associate lays claim to record
Tony Cornell's letter in the 11 March edition "An Age Old Conundrum" denying Peter Cullum's (ascribed) claim to be the youngest Associate at 21 sent me scurrying for my archives — otherwise known as the suitcase in the loft.
Claims Surges - Surge control
The Association of British Insurers has placed a surge event hypothesis on the table, where claims work is allocated street by street, rather than by insurer. Sam Barrett weighs up the pros and cons.
Biba 2010: the London Market View
With this year's Biba conference being held in the capital, Post thought it appropriate to ask a number of insurers traditionally associated with the London market why they are exhibiting and what they hope to get out of it. This week, we talked to Kevin…
Get to know your biba representatives
With eight weeks to go before the start of the British Insurance Brokers' Association conference, Post has decided to shine a light on some of the perhaps lesser-known staff at the trade body. This week, we talk to Kirsty Wingrove, Biba membership co…
Sporting events - Terrorist Threat: Sports under scrutiny
With large sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup attracting the threat of terrorist activity in 2010, Edward Murray looks at the concerns insurers have.
Professional Indemnity - Surveyros: Reduce exposure
With claims against surveyors showing no signs of abating, Ana Paula Nacif examines the move by professional indemnity insurers to tighten their underwriting criteria.
Professional Indemnity - Managing the Cycle: Tough conditions
Conditions in the professional indemnity market are some of the most challenging ever seen. Nigel Dorning looks at the problems and possible solutions.
Legal Update - Chain of causation
In the unusual case of Spencer v Wincanton Holdings, Peter Wake explains how the Court of Appeal gave guidance to insurers on unreasonable conduct and what is sufficient to break a chain of causation.
Evander signs up for NVQ Level 2 with TIR
More than 300 Evander staff are to undergo NVQ level training, after the property services firm agreed a major deal with training company TIR.
Easi-Drive urges insurer payments
Accident management company Easi-Drive has called on insurers to pay their invoices within 30 days to help the firm raise up to £150 000 for charity.
IRM links up with Norway
The Institute of Risk Management has joined forces with its Norwegian counterpart to establish a new education initiative for its members.
AMII teams up with CII to launch health insurance exam
The Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries and the Chartered Insurance Institute are to launch a health insurance examination next month.
Towergate beats £1m charity barrier again
Towergate has raised more than £1m for charitable causes for the second consecutive year.
Ace
Ace UK has strengthened its environmental risk team with the appointment of Victoria Keeble as environmental risk underwriter.
Greenwoods
Greenwoods Solicitors has appointed Peter Crossland as partner.
CTC
Charles Taylor Consulting has appointed Mike Peachey, chief executive of CTC Axiom, to the new role of group chief risk officer.
ALC Health
ALC Health has promoted Tash Pearce to the position of head of operations with immediate effect.
Brit
Brit Insurance has established an Australian office in Sydney's financial district, to be headed by Mike Davidson, who takes up the position of managing director.
Penny black's insurance week
Penny has been to her fair share of celebrity restaurants in the past, but it is not often that she gets to rub shoulders with the celebrities themselves.
Looking Back 50 years: Deaths on the road see increase
The Ministry of Transport has announced that 507 people died in road accidents in the UK in January.
Looking Back 30 years: From actuary to rock star interviewer
From pensions quotations to rock music is a big leap. But Spencer Leigh has no trouble in straddling two such disparate interests.
Looking Back 20 years: Telephone changes for London calls
Members of the Association of British Insurers are urging policyholders with burglar alarms linked to police stations with London 01 telephone numbers to ensure these are converted to take account of the changes British Telecom is making to London codes.
Looking Back 10 years: Eastgate to sue Lindsey Morden
Claims assistance group Eastgate is suing the Lindsey Morden Group for more than £20m over the Hambro Assistance deal.
CGS quartet moot start-up after departure from Merlin
The founders of commercial loss adjuster Carr Greenwood Smith have not ruled out re-establishing their own business after announcing plans to leave their current roles at Merlin at the end of the month.
MMA to open three new branches as others downsize
MMA has outlined "phase two" of its commercial roll out with the establishment of three new regional trading centres.
Medicals Direct targets £40m turnover by 2013
Medicals Direct Group has signalled its intent to become a major UK absence management and rehabilitation player after a trio of acquisitions last week boosted its turnover to more than £25m.
Birmingham tops list for motor fraud
Birmingham has topped a list of the areas with the highest level of motor insurance fraud across England.
Laser technology could reduce premiums
The introduction of new anti-pirate laser technology aimed at commercial shipping firms could lead to marine insurers reducing premiums.
IFB and MIB to strike deal
The Insurance Fraud Bureau is set to strike a support services deal with the Motor Insurance Bureau, allowing it to expand into new services and product lines.
Ecclesiastical chief expects difficult 2010
Ecclesiastical group chief executive Michael Tripp has admitted 2010 could be tougher after posting improved profit for 2009.
Oval appoints Rothschild to consider future options
Oval has made Gloucester-based broker JL Fisher & Co its first acquisition of 2010, adding it would also consider a "transformational deal" to take it past its £200m target.
New evidence emerges in Autofocus case
A crucial case in the legal wrangle between Accident Exchange and Autofocus could be expedited at the Court of Appeal due to newly discovered evidence.
Interview - Tony Emms: A new claim on the future
New CII claims faculty chairman Tony Emms talks to Stephanie Denton about attracting younger talent to the industry and expanding skillsets to meet the increasingly complex requirements of the claims handler's role.
BGL targets new insurer partners
Junction is to target home and motor insurers keen on going direct by providing them with additional distribution capabilities, according to managing director Peter Thompson.
Validus to cross-check claims
Insurance service business Validus has launched a system it claims can save insurers millions by tackling the fraudulent practice of overlapping hires in the credit hire industry.
Editor's comment: The managerial merry-go-round spins again
Last week's announcement from Giles of another senior departure would appear to the casual observer to be the latest in what seems a regular rolling cast change at the private equity-backed broker.
Roundtable - Pro-active Claims Management - Setting out the crucial aims for claims
Many insurers now view claims management as a way to differentiate their service from that of their peers. Leigh Jackson reports on how a panel of experts see this as a crucial way to retain customers and win business.
L&G puts "too cheap" tag to bed with 6% rises
Legal & General's general insurance managing director had hailed its actions in the broker channel as the key behind its return to black in 2009.
Co-op GI boss hails the "renaissance" of the group
The Co-operative Financial Services' increase in general insurance premiums of £29.9m in 2009, is part of the "renaissance of the overall group", according to David Neave.
CBG reacts to drop in profits with rebrand
CBG is to undergo a “total rebrand” and change of chairman after posting a reduced profit for 2009. The Manchester-based broking group saw adjusted pre-tax profits halve to £1.02m (2008: £2.46m) while revenue fell to £8.96m in 2009 (2008: £11.15m).
Biba chief: best practice call for small brokers
British Insurance Brokers' Association chief executive Eric Galbraith has slammed the Financial Services Authority's disregard for its members' risk profile and resources and called on it to lay down best practice guidelines for smaller intermediaries.
Invicta targets £25m by 2013
Founder of Hero Insurance Services, Paul Cosh, has returned to the broker market by taking a financial stake and chairman role in a personal lines start-up launched by former Woodstock operations manager Steve Gamage.
North of the Border: Pleural plaques
The Westminster government's recent announcement that it will not be restoring the right to claim compensation for pleural plaques, under English law, following consultation on the issue, has left those with plaques in England and Wales in a somewhat…
Airmic boss blasts draconian Solvency II
Association of Insurance and Risk Managers chief executive John Hurrell has warned captive insurers are at risk from "draconian" Solvency II proposals.
Intersport to save partners £5m in leakage
Intersport Insurance Services has set its sights on becoming the "preferred option" for the validation and replacement of sports equipment, after vowing to save its partners £5m in claims leakage during 2010.
Election 2010 - Labour view: Lord Myners interview
In the fifth of Post's six-part series, profiling the major political parties, Mairi MacDonald talks to Lord Myners about Labour's plans and priorities.
Claims Charters - Standard bearers
Many saw Allianz Insurance's decision to publish performance statistics as a bold move. Stephanie Denton looks at the pros and cons of a claims charter and asks if other insurers will follow suit.
New Comment - High Street Broking: The direct approach to branching out
Having floated the idea of launching a network of branches in May last year, Hastings Direct officially opened its first shop earlier this month. Edward Fitzmaurice explains why the firm is opening branches in an age increasingly dominated by online…