Markerstudy
Markerstudy to sell MGA arm
Markerstudy Group is set to sell its managing general agent arm to the parent company of insurer Tradex, as it sharpens its focus on broking, Insurance Post’s sister title Insurance Age has revealed.
Markerstudy’s Beal outlines two paths for ChatGPT in insurance
Andrew Beal, director of architecture and innovation at Markerstudy, predicts two ways in which ChatGPT could transform insurance distribution, and urges the industry to be prepared for both.
When pricing wags the dog: Pet insurers seek control
Rising veterinary costs, fragmented data and price-led competition are leaving the pet insurance market struggling to stay in control. Industry leaders say collaboration, clearer products and smarter use of data will be key to restoring balance.
AIG’s partnership; Seventeen’s acquisitions; Markerstudy’s CFO
Friday Round-Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
MGAs will ‘welcome’ heightened watchdog interest
Mike Keating, CEO of the Managing General Agents’ Association, has said heightened regulatory interest in the sector is not surprising considering its growth momentum.
FCA and PRA turn spotlight on MGA oversight
The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are sharpening their scrutiny of managing general agents, stressing insurers must take primary responsibility for businesses underwriting on their behalf.
Markerstudy’s Profit on keeping women in insurance working
Sarah Profit, customer business partner and co-chair of Women’s Network at Markerstudy, argues insurers must turn inclusion promises into practical menopause support to retain experienced female talent.
How CROs can swap rituals for real risk leadership
View from the Top: Darren Boland, chief risk officer at Markerstudy, reflects on how AI and other developments are changing the world of risk, and how CROs can rise to the occasion.
Apologies to Donaldson: Passing on the crown for shortest GI CEO stint
Content Director’s View: With a host of recent – mostly surprising – announcements relating to short leadership/CEO stints, Jonathan Swift revisits his column from last February where he awarded the crown for briefest tenure at the top to Ardonagh’s Ian…
FCA hits Markerstudy with growth restrictions
The Financial Conduct Authority and Markerstudy have agreed a cap on customer numbers for the insurance group while concerns raised by the regulator are addressed.
Is pet insurance pulling on the leash or coming to heel?
Almost six years on from the Covid-19 pandemic, Scott McGee examines how the pet insurance sector has adjusted, how premiums have evolved, why new entrants are arriving, and where the market could be heading.
How Belfast’s insurance sector is overcoming Brexit blues
As Belfast enters a new year of investment, consolidation and post-Brexit adjustment, Tom Luckham examines how its insurance sector is proving resilient, fast-growing and increasingly strategic for both UK and Irish markets.
Which provider will challenge the Aviva-DLG giant in 2026?
Deputy Editor's View: After Aviva’s acquisition of Direct Line Group in 2025, deputy editor Scott McGee ponders what rivals could be planning to do in 2026 to compete for a place on the nation's biggest personal lines player podium.
MGA Forecast of 2026
Entering 2026, MGA chiefs feel the sector is in a strong yet testing position buoyed by technology, specialism and capacity support, but facing a softening market that will reward those combining underwriting discipline, data-driven innovation and…
Broker Forecast for 2026
Brokers are bracing for a soft but fiercely competitive market in 2026 shaped by economic pressures, rapid digitalisation and widening technological divides.
Penny Black’s Social Diary: Markerstudy’s feast; ISC’s balloons
Penny Black is back, sharing the tittle-tattle she overheard at insurance industry events, reviewing the quality of buffets at conferences and giving a thumbs up – or down – to the sector’s social media posts.
MGAs Review of the Year 2025
2025 was a landmark year for MGAs, marked by record growth, major partnerships, technological innovation and expanding global reach, even as soft market conditions and pricing pressures tested resilience across the sector.
Broker Review of the Year 2025
A softening market put downward pressure on brokers revenue in 2025 but businesses that embraced digital breakthroughs and delivered exceptional service have succeeded in holding on to their clients in a competitive market.
Headlines I hope to see in 2026
Deputy Editor’s View: With the year drawing to a close, Scott McGee looks back at what he thinks are the main themes of 2025 and how they could develop in 2026.
First Central to cut 160 Jobs
First Central is consulting on significantly reducing its workforce and outsourcing roles to its South African office in the new year, Insurance Post can reveal.
Insurers target call centre job cuts as tech adoption advances
A report has suggested Allianz Partners is looking to get rid of call centre staff, while Post understands Markerstudy is also considering its call centre personnel numbers over the next few years.