United Kingdom (UK)
Financial services survey finds insurance optimism surging
Optimism among insurance providers has soared to its highest level in years, according to the latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey, with brokers also increasingly upbeat.
Hastings sees claims costs jump in Q4
Rising claims costs in quarter four are expected to put a slight dent in Hastings’ 2019 dividend payout.
Blog: How artificial intelligence is altering the landscape of liability for the healthcare industry
Missed, inappropriately delayed, or simply just wrong – these are all types of human diagnostic errors hampering healthcare systems and not only are they more common than you might think, some experts believe these errors to be the third-leading cause of…
Pukka hits pause on business
Exclusive: Motor managing general agent Pukka has temporarily suspended trading, having reached its capacity limit with providers.
Ecclesiastical group compliance director to retire
John Titchener, group compliance director for Ecclesiastical, will retire later this year.
FSCS reveals £12.4m cost of Qudos and Lamp failures
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has forecast that the failures of Qudos Insurance in December 2018 and Lamp Insurance in May last year will cost £12.4m this financial year.
FSCS set to cut levy for insurers as broker bill rises in 2020/21
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has proposed a levy on general insurance providers of £118m for 2020/21, down £47m on the budget for the current year.
German insurtech Getsafe launches in UK with Hiscox partnership
Heidelberg-headquartered Getsafe has launched a digital contents insurance product in the UK.
Allianz business transfers resulted in 180 LV redundancies
180 LV staff faced redundancy as a result of the Allianz commercial business transfers, with around nine in ten (90%) having found roles elsewhere.
Rising Star: Ieva Andraityte, Arc Legal Assistance
Ieva Andraityte now manages some of the legal expenses of Arc Legal's largest corporate clients, having discovered a passion for statistics and data analysis at university.
MGA Mole: Why does banking look down on insurance?
Post has enlisted a managing general agent industry mole to lift the lid on what the sector is really like. Our anonymous commentator asks why the perception of working in the insurance industry is so bad from the outside.
RSA e-trading director exits amid strategy changes and departures
Exclusive: Departures and changes for RSA's e-trade division after former e-trading director Paul Trivett leaves the business.
Gefion barred from expanding scope until ‘serious liquidity problems’ sorted
Danish unrated insurer Gefion cannot enter new lines of business or branch out into further territories until it can meet its solvency capital requirement, the regulator has ordered.
Trade Voice: Ozlem Gurses of Bila on insurtechs and fair treatment of consumers
Ozlem Gurses, reader in insurance and commercial law at King’s College London and British Insurance Law Association committee member, asks if the oversight of insurtechs is keeping up with the potential damage to consumer protection that new technology…
Go Compare urges 28 day cooling off period for auto-renewals
Go Compare has called for a doubling of the cooling off period for auto-renewals from 14 to 28 days during which time insurers should take “all reasonable steps” to make customers aware their insurance has been auto-renewed.
Somerset Bridge sells Business Choice Direct
Arron Banks-backed Somerset Bridge Insurance Services has sold its commercial insurance subsidiary Business Choice Direct Insurance Services to Somerset-headquartered Lloyd & Whyte Group for an undisclosed sum.
BGL's Peter Thompson on digital innovation in insurance
It’s 2020 so paying lip service to protecting vulnerable customers just doesn’t cut it, in any industry says Peter Thompson, CEO for insurance, distribution and outsourcing at BGL Group.
Matson hints at US reinsurance M&A following Capsicum Re buyout
Capsicum Re could seek to expand its presence in the US through acquisitions, Gallagher UK broking and underwriting CEO Simon Matson has said, following the company’s acquisition of the reinsurance broker.
Ken Randall to step down from R&Q
R&Q has recruited William Spiegel as executive director and deputy group chairman ahead of co-founder Ken Randall stepping down in around 12 months’ time.
Former Iprism holding company moves towards liquidation with small payout
Unsecured creditors of Spectrum Bidco are in line to get a £216,112 payout as the former holding company of Iprism Underwriting Agency moves from administration into creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
RSA commercial motor underwriting director steps down
Ian Kemp stepped down as commercial motor underwriting director at RSA last month.
Interview: James Long, Criterion MD
James Long assumed the position of managing director at Charles Taylor-owned loss adjuster Criterion in 2018, after 6 years at the company. He spoke to Post about the challenges the high net worth sector is facing, as well as predictions and plans for…
CII ready to be 'held to account' over corporate chartered status refresh
The Chartered Insurance Institute is ready to be held to account, having rolled out its priorities for refreshing corporate chartered status last year, professional standards director Melissa Collett told Post.
GRP adds Birrell Group as Midlands hub
Global Risk Partners has taken a majority stake in the Birrell Group, based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The group consists of Kingsway Insurance Services and Bausor Hall Associates.