United Kingdom (UK)
Editor's comment: End of the road or new opportunity for insurtechs?
The rumours and water cooler conversations began in July 2019 as soon as it was confirmed market stalwart Amanda Blanc had left Zurich after only nine months.
Amanda Blanc promises to shake up Aviva
It is abundantly clear that “meaningful change” is needed to unlock Aviva’s potential, according to CEO Amanda Blanc.
Penny Black's Social World: August 2020
Claims & Fraud Awards, charity challenges and sustainability week
Blog: Coronavirus, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the hardening market
A hard market is traditionally where specialist insurers and forward-thinking capacity providers thrive. As such Floodflash co-founder Ian Bartholomew is confident new resilient insurance businesses will emerge from the post-pandemic economic downturn
RSA cutting 300 roles
RSA has announced a voluntary redundancy programme as part of a process designed to reduce its headcount by the equivalent of 300 full time roles.
Markerstudy 'surprised' by union criticism as it confirms Co-op redundancies
Markerstudy's purchase of Co-op’s underwriting business could lead to up to 300 redundancies, with the group telling Post it has committed to keeping 700 staff and is actively engaging with Unite the union.
Business enquiries down 14% on last year at Allianz
While market conditions are slowly recovering in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, the volume of new enquiries for commercial policies remain substantially lower than were last year, according to Allianz Insurance.
Axa offers £50 compensation after walking back BI cover confirmation
Axa has offered a UK policyholder £50 in compensation after rejecting a business interruption claim it had initially indicated would be covered.
Hastings agrees £1.66bn takeover
Finnish insurer Sampo and South African financial services firm Rand Merchant Investment Holdings have agreed a £1.66bn takeover with the directors of Hastings.
Analysis: Legal expenses insurers: Rising to the challenge
Legal expenses insurers saw at least double-digit increases in call volumes as the government moved to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus by locking down the UK. Providers rose to the challenge and believe they are well placed to meet any further…
Swiss Re UK CEO Tavaziva Madzinga joins ABI board
Tavaziva Madzinga, CEO of Swiss Re UK and Ireland, has joined the board of the Association of British Insurers.
Direct Line open to acquisitions and partnerships: CFO Tim Harris
Direct Line Group remains open to inorganic growth from acquisitions and partnerships despite the Covid-19 impact, DLG chief financial officer Tim Harris has confirmed.
AIG adds $458m of Covid-19 losses in Q2
AIG reported an underwriting loss of $343m (£262.8m) for general insurance business in the second quarter of 2020.
Co-op under fire from union over Markerstudy insurance deal
Trade union Unite has accused Co-op of having "forgotten its principles" by selling its Manchester-based insurance business to Markerstudy, alleging the deal will result in 200 job losses.
PE firms circle AA for takeover talks
Motoring group The AA has confirmed holding takeover talks with three private equity parties as it discusses “a wide range of potential refinancing options”.
Covea agrees €1.5bn investment with Exor after Partner Re deal collapse
Covéa will invest €1.5bn (£1.35m) with Exor and special purpose reinsurance vehicles managed by Partner Re, after its bid to buy the reinsurer fell apart earlier this year.
FCA warns of action on BI claims deductions
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned insurers making deductions to non-damage business interruption claim payments based on government payouts that it will intervene if firms do not meet its expectations and treat customers fairly.
RSA to exit wedding insurance in early 2021
RSA will cease to underwrite wedding insurance when its John Lewis contract ends at the beginning of next year, Post has learned.
Further cost-cutting expected at RSA UK
RSA will look to cut further costs in its UK arm, RSA CEO Stephen Hester confirmed as the insurer released it first half results for 2020.
Markerstudy's Gary Humphreys on the impact of Covid-19 on businesses
Pre-23 March, my diary for 2020 was already reasonably committed. The usual mix of work and family obligations, interspersed with one or two holiday highlights, not dissimilar, I imagine, to the majority of my friends and colleagues.
No evidence of reputation hit to business, says Hiscox global retail CEO
Hiscox has not seen a slowdown in business as a result of its high-profile involvement in disputes over coronavirus business interruption claims, the insurer’s global retail CEO Ben Walter told Post.
FCA vulnerability guidance ‘far from enough’ warns former retail GI boss
The Financial Conduct Authority's guidance to help firms understand and assist vulnerable customers may be a start "but is far from enough”, the watchdog's former retail general insurance boss has cautioned.
Hiscox bulks up Covid claims hit estimate as group faces loss
Hiscox swung into a loss for the first half of 2020 as it increased its Covid-19 claims hit estimate.
Alex Williams promoted to MD at i-Wonder
Alex Williams has been appointed at the first managing director of technology firm i-Wonder.