Switzerland
Helvetia renews Vontobel tie-up
Swiss insurer Helvetia Insurance and Swiss bank Vontobel have extended their partnership at least until the end of 2018.
Zurich promotes Davies to marine underwriting head
Zurich has appointed Mike Davies as its global head of marine underwriting effective of 1 July.
Swiss group Baloise to close Bremen and Nuremberg offices with 400 job cuts
Baloise is to close two German offices with the loss of up to 400 jobs.
Heavy rain causes “record” Central European flooding
Floods wracking Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are the worst for 70 years according to catastrophe modeller AIR Worldwide.
Severe flooding hits Central Europe
Authorities in Central Europe have declared states of emergency after severe flooding hit cities across the region.
Crawford hires forensic accountant to lead BI adjusting team
Claims management firm Crawford & Company has recruited forensic accountant Ian Hasson from Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Marketing: European exposure
In the UK, the insurance industry is well known for its marketing and advertising campaigns but is brand management as effective in Europe, Francesca Nyman explains.
Insurance Insight Q+A: Frank Pinder, Global Options
Global Options president Frank Pinder speaks to Francesca Nyman about fraud, special investigative units and the US company’s European ambitions.
EU-US dialogue project agrees five-year plan
The Steering Committee of the EU-U.S. Insurance Dialogue Project has agreed on a high level work plan from 2013 to 2017.
Helvetia appoints new head of investor relations
Switzerland’s Helvetia Group has appointed Susanne-Christina Tengler as its head of investor relations.
Market losses support improvements to flood and windstorm database
Catastrophe insurance data provider Perils has updated the property sums insured exposed to UK flood as part of an update to its Europe Industry Exposure Database.
Zurich unveils Red Cross flood alliance
Zurich Insurance Group has formed a CHF 21m five-year alliance with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Ace targets Swiss growth with A&H hire
Ace Group has appointed Ana de Montvert as business development manager for its Swiss accident & health business, as the company expands its consumer insurance proposition in the country.
Zurich places subordinated notes worth €788m
Zurich Insurance Group has successfully placed dated subordinated notes in an amount of €788m.
Guy Carpenter names head of European casualty strategy
Guy Carpenter has appointed Georg Fuelles head of European casualty strategy.
Guy Carpenter appointment signals focus on European casualty market
Guy Carpenter & Company has appointed Georg Fuelles as head of European casualty strategy.
Kanis to take the reigns of Helvetia's reinsurance division
Former XL property underwriter Gérald Kanis will take over the management of the reinsurance division at Switzerland's Helvetia Insurance from 1 March 2013.
Swiss Re full year net income rises to $4.2bn
Swiss Re posted net income of $4.2bn for the full year 2012, driven by strong profitability in property and casualty reinsurance and strong investment result.
Zurich and Generali linked with Spain's "bad bank"
Italy’s Generali and Switzerland’s Zurich will invest in a Spanish bank set up by the government to manage toxic property assets, according to Reuters.
Zurich proposes new board members
Zurich Insurance's board of directors has proposed the re-election of Susan Bies, Victor Chu and Rolf Watter at its annual general meeting on 4 April 2013.
Ace Switzerland appoints technical lines manager
René Germann has been appointed technical lines manager for Ace Switzerland as it aims to grow its technical lines capabilities in continental Europe.
Zurich GI appoints head of customer, distribution and marketing
Zurich Insurance Group has named Dirk De Nil as head of customer, distribution and marketing for its general insurance business.
Former Lockton International CEO Julian James returns with Allied World
Former Lockton International chief executive Julian James is to return to the market as European president of Swiss insurer and reinsurer Allied World.
Ex-Lockton International boss James returns at Allied World
Former Lockton International chief executive Julian James has joined Switzerland-based insurer and reinsurer Allied World as European president.