United Kingdom (UK)
Zurich UK profits up 19% in first nine months
Zurich’s UK general insurance business posted a 19% increase in business operating profit to £136m for the first three quarters of 2014, compared with £114m for the same period in 2013. Gross written premiums rose 2% on the first three quarters of 2013…
Treasury pledges £97m for ‘world-leading’ Met Office supercomputer
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has today revealed plans to spend £97m on a supercomputer to improve the UK’s ability to predict disruptive weather.
Ecclesiastical appoints Brown to new church and heritage role
Heritage specialist Ecclesiastical has appointed Andrew Brown into a newly created role of church and heritage claims director.
Hiscox launches personal accident insurance product
Hiscox has launched a personal accident insurance product for the UK market.
Hiscox returns to TV with new home insurance campaign
Specialist insurer Hiscox has launched a new television campaign, with the strapline ‘as your home becomes more important, so does your insurer’.
Zurich UK GI CEO Smith replaced by group controller Sharma
Zurich has announced that Switzerland-based group controller Vibhu Sharma will replace Dave Smith as UK general insurance chief executive from April next year.
Gallagher appoints COO and MD of partnerships for GIS
Arthur J. Gallagher has appointed Simon Pearce and Andy Tedstone to the senior management team of its UK distribution arm Gallagher Insurance Solutions.
Volatility adjustment approval process could disadvantage UK firms
Proposals to make the Solvency II volatility adjustment subject to pre-approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority could put UK firms at a competitive disadvantage, according to EY’s head of insurance regulation and risk Martin Bradley.
Applied Systems plots UK growth
Brokers using Applied Systems software can expect to see growth in the US firm's UK arm in its product offering and staff numbers, according to the company's senior leaders.
UK expected to lead on Solvency II related disposals in 2015
The impact of the Solvency II directive has been attributed for an expected sixth year of growth in the European run-off market, according to PWC’s annual survey.
R&Q posts pre-tax loss of £600 000 for H1
Insurance investor and underwriting manager Randall & Quilter posted a pre-tax loss of £600 000 for the first six months of 2014 (H1 2013: £3m profit) following an increase in legal expense reserves.
Mastek UK appoints Khanolkar to lead insurance and financial services
Global enterprise application specialist Mastek UK has appointed Vidyesh Khanolkar as head of insurance and financial services division.
Ana Cap completes Brightside acquisition
European private equity firm Ana Cap Financial Partners has completed its acquisition of broker Brightside Group.
Quindell founder committed to pursuing legal action against Gotham
Quindell will continue to pursue legal action against Delaware-based research firm Gotham City, despite the difficulty given their US jurisdiction, executive chairman Rob Terry has confirmed.
Willis deputy CEO Hearn handed UK leadership
Willis UK chief executive David Martin has been handed a newly created role as the broker’s global leader of placement, with deputy group CEO Steve Hearn replacing him in leading the UK business.
Ghost broker who targeted Yorkshire's Asian community jailed
A ghost broker who sold invalid car insurance policies to more than 100 Yorkshire-based motorists was today jailed for fraud.
UK growth behind W.R Berkley Europe's MGAA membership
W.R. Berkley Insurance Europe has joined the Managing General Agent’s Association in a bid to help drive the firm’s UK development.
Motor premiums predicted to rise in line with inflation
Motor insurance premiums are likely to start rising over the next 12 months after two years of falling prices, according to Deloitte insurance partner James Rakow.
Esure IPO highlights UK prominence in private equity domain
The UK has asserted itself as a key market for private equity activity, according to a study by international law firm White & Chase.
Q&A: RSA boss Stephen Hester gives Post the inside track
Four months after taking over the reins at RSA, group chief executive Stephen Hester talks to Post about the reasons behind his decision to take the plunge into the general insurance industry, how the firm’s strategic action plan is progressing, life…
Ace launches mobile app for web trading platform
Ace has launched a mobile ipad app for its web-trading platform, Ace Online, which allows brokers to quote and bind new business on behalf of clients.
More M&A activity predicted for 2014 as UK leads the way in Europe
Mergers and acquisitions completed within the UK insurance market last year dwarfed similar deals in the rest of Europe, according to Grant Thornton, which is predicting more acquisitive activity in 2014.
Aviva appoints Lovely as claims director
Aviva has appointed David Lovely as its claims director, reporting to Maurice Tulloch, chief executive for UK and Ireland general insurance.
London market insurer WR Berkley plots regional expansion
WR Berkley Europe has revealed plans to expand its UK distribution channels via open market, online and schemes with a view to providing the firm with increased access to regional business.