Europe
Former AGERS president Romero passes away
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations has learned with sadness of the death of Eduardo Romero, former member of the FERMA board, president of the Spanish risk management association AGERS from 1999-2003 and former risk manager of Grupo…
SSP appoints Discombe chairman of board of directors
Insurance technology solutions provider SSP has appointed Nick Discombe as non-executive chairman.
Chartis' Sadler elected president of Aerospace insurers
Janet Sadler of insurer Chartis Europe has been elected president of the International Union of Aerospace Insurers.
International insurance think tank appoints Swiss Re's Fitzpatrick as MD
The Geneva Association has named John Fitzpatrick as secretary general and managing director.
Ex-Jubilee motor boss joins HDI-Gerling
Industrial insurance firm HDI-Gerling is expanding its UK offering to include motor fleet in the UK after appointing John Shepherd to head up the new line of business.
Ferma elects board members for new term
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations has elected three board members for new three-year terms.
Germany 'must open up' to global insurance market
The Eurozone crisis and the export-led boom in German industry mean that Germany's insurance buyers must look to markets outside their own borders for insurance solutions, according to Jan Blumenthal, Lloyd's general representative for Germany.
THB poaches Marsh Netherlands vice president
Broker THB has appointed Rick Gerritsen as broking director of its European division in Amsterdam.
View from the top: German PI market open for growth
Germany's nascent professional indemnity market still lags behind those of its European peers, but it has considerable growth potential, as Frederik Wulff explains.
Burton to head Coface's Asia Pacific platform
Richard Burton has been appointed manager for Coface's Asia Pacific platform.
Fondiaria-Unipol merger suffers further setback
Jonella and Paolo Ligresti, two of the principal owners of Italian insurer Fondiaria-SAI, have refused to agree to conditions necessary to waive a mandatory bid on minorities in a planned merger with rival Unipol, threatening to scupper the deal,…
Norton Rose bolsters French practice with new appointments
Global law firm Norton Rose has recruited Hogan Lovell's Bénédicte Denis as a corporate partner in its Paris office.
Executive chairman retires from Cooper Gay energy division
Tony Pickering is retiring as executive chairman of the energy division at insurance intermediary Cooper Gay & Co.
MDS Holdings recruits international specialist to spearhead expansion plans
European and Latin American broker MDS Holdings plans to expand its global footprint beyond its current Portuguese, Angolan and Brazilian territories.
QBE appoints new non-executive director
Business specialist QBE has appointed Wai Au as non-executive director of its Lloyd's operation QBE Underwriting and its UK company market and European branch operations, QBE Insurance.
Moss exit and senior management shake-up keep Aviva rating under review
Aviva's financial strength rating of A (excellent) has been reviewed and maintained by AM Best Europe while remaining under review with negative implications.
Mapfre Re downgraded amid fears over future of Spanish economy
Mapfre Group’s reinsurance arm’s issuer credit rating has been downgraded by AM Best Europe following an assessment of the consolidated group’s financial strength and ongoing risks in the Eurozone.
Barnier "hopeful" of political agreement on Solvency II
Despite "rapid progress" being made, Solvency II may not apply from 1 January 2014 if political consensus is not reached in the next few weeks, according to Michel Barnier.
RSA's Canadian arm acquires Quebec-based P&C insurer
Home, motor and business insurer RSA Canada has agreed to acquire L'Union Canadienne, a Quebec-based intermediated P&C insurer, from its parent company Co-operators General Insurance Company for C$150m pending regulatory approval.
Towers Watson opens German branch
Towers Watson (Re)Insurance Brokers has continued its expansion in continental Europe with the creation of an operation in Germany.
Marsh recruits new CEO from sister company
The board of Marsh today announced the appointment of Mark Weil as CEO in succession to Martin South, who was appointed CEO of Marsh Europe in January.
A survivor's guide to a Eurozone breakup
The Eurozone is experiencing instability that could threaten its very existence. As the possibility of a break up edges ever closer, insurers and other financial institutions must be ready to act, explains Robert Hall.
Willis restructure aims to integrate "siloed and independent businesses"
Willis Global, the reinsurance, specialties and wholesale arm of Willis Group, will implement a series of "client-centric" structural changes aimed at growing the premiums placed annually through its three core segments.
Scor and key subsidiaries upgraded to A+
French reinsurer Scor has had its insurer financial strength rating upgraded from A to A+ by Standard and Poor's along with core subsidiaries.