Powerlist Page3
The POST Power List 2014
Over the past 12 months the UK insurance industry has faced thematic reviews by the dozen, missed opportunities in the motor sector when the Competition
and Markets Authority dropped the ball with its two-year report and faced a work-in-progress for the flood problems. Next year it will see a general election that will shape the regulatory landscape for the next five years, the last year of Solvency II preparation and the start of road trials for autonomous cars. So which major players made an impact in 2014 and who will shape the industry next year? Post put its thinking cap on - with a bottle or two of wine - and decided who
the movers and shakers will be in 2015.
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John O’Roarke
MD, general insurance, LV
A man fighting against fraud on behalf of the industry in his role as chairman of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, it will be an interesting year for O’Roarke personally, as LV’s management team enters the final year of their rolling contract. Who will take over and what will O’Roarke do next?
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Ashwin Mistry
President, Chartered Insurance Institute
Never shy in coming forward, Mistry looks certain to stamp his mark on the market during his presidency of the Chartered Insurance Institute, especially with his consumer agenda.
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Stephen Catlin
CEO, Catlin Group
With profits before tax up 118% to $318m (£202m) for the first six months of 2014 compared with $145m in the first half of 2013, Catlin is one to watch. He is also going to be introduced to the International Insurance Society’s insurance hall of fame for 2015.
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Henry Engelhardt
Founder and CEO, Admiral
Admiral has extended its reinsurance deals until 2016 and is mulling its position in the telematics market. A company very much built in Engelhardt’s image, the business continues to be seen as one of the digital innovators in the UK.
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Frank Buchsteiner
Managing director, Munich Re UK
As insurers face the threat of one-third of their liabilities being periodic protection orders and the importance of strong reinsurance weighing heavy on their minds, Buchsteiner, the UK boss of the world’s biggest reinsurer, holds a lot of power.
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Paul Lewis and Martin Lewis
Consumer champions
The insurance market is coming under increased consumer scrutiny and consumer champions Paul and Martin Lewis (no relation) have the ear of the public, so their influence should not be underplayed.
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Vibhu Sharma
Incoming UK CEO, Zurich general insurance
Zurich finished its hunt for a long-term general insurance CEO in the UK – a process kick-started by Steve Lewis’s decision to replace Adrian Brown as RSA’s UK and Western Europe boss – with the appointment of Sharma, Switzerland-based group controller. Lewis will be a tough act to follow so all eyes will be on Sharma come April.
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Mark Weil
CEO, Marsh UK & Ireland
It’s all going on in the broking sector and the landscape has changed significantly in 2014. Weil started the year with a signature deal for Central and is ending it with links to offers for Towergate. 2015 could be a big year for the broker.
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Jon Dye
CEO, Allianz Insurance UK
As head of one of the few firms with a long-running combined operating ratio under 100%, the pressure is on Dye to keep up his predecessor’s track record while increasing the visibility of the brand and continuing to grow. Fears must be growing around their chances of keeping this up as even the PR team has stopped mentioning the number of profitable quarters.
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Roberto Gualtieri
MEP
A member of the European Parliament since 2009, Italian MP Gualtieri was elected Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in July 2014. He will head up the discussions on mandatory commission disclosure, amid fears German changes might influence its introduction for brokers.