Insurer
Malaysian M&A activity to continue in 2012
The high volume of merger and acquisition activities in the Malaysia financial services sectors is expected to continue in 2012, particularly in the area of insurance, a Pricewaterhouse Coopers official has said.
Post magazine – 29 December 2011/5 January 2012
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Windstorm Ulli expected to hit Scandanavia then dissipate
Windstorm Ulli is passing through Scandinavia and is expected to dissipate as it moves over the Baltic Sea today.
Chartis and Generali back launch of Chinese aggregator site
CNinsure, an independent insurance intermediary company operating in China, has launched a comparison website under the name of Baowang (www.baoxian.com).
85% of Omani consumers want Islamic finance products
There is strong appetite among Omani consumers for Islamic finance with many keen to take it up as soon as it becomes available on the market, according to a study published by the Islamic Finance Advisory & Assurance Services.
Travel insurers criticised over ongoing medical warranties
A rising number of Britons travelling overseas are being left without cover by insurers implementing medical clauses after policies are sold, according to consumer watchdog Which?
Ageas's Asian subsidiary has ratings affirmed
Ageas Insurance Company (Asia) has had it’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating affirmed at 'BBB+', and insurer financial strength rating affirmed at 'A-' by Fitch.
London head of sales departs Axa
According to Post’s sister publication, Insurance Age, Axa commercial lines’ head of sales for London, Jamie Lewis, has left the company.
AM Best affirms Asia Capital Reinsurance Group FSR
Asia Capital Reinsurance Group has had its financial strength ratings affirmed along with core subsidiaries.
Charles Taylor appoints business development executive
Charles Taylor Insurance Services has expanded its business development team with the appointment of James Savill as business development executive.
View from the top: 2012 — the start of the future?
Plans for the year ahead need to address the fundamentals of the industry, says Stephen Lewis.
Claims - Big freeze: Winter of discontent
The big freeze of late 2010 led to widespread criticism of adjusters and insurers — but have lessons been learnt for the future?
Penny Black’s insurance week
Penny is rather partial to a good Christmas song to get her in the festive spirit but she does prefer the classics to be sung by the experts.
Website review – Sheilas’ Wheels: Have the wheels fallen off?
Web performance specialist Gomez tests out the Sheilas’ Wheels website.
Voyager targets consumers with past convictions
The director if niche broker Voyager is hoping to take advantage of the reluctance by mainstream insurers to offer cover to people with criminal convictions.
Unified response called for as metal theft cases see substantial increase
Insurers are demanding a unified fight for changes to scrap metal sales to cut a spate of thefts, thought by the police to be worth more than £800m — but insurers argue consequential costs could run much higher.
No widescale rate hardening at 1/1 renewals
The 1 January reinsurance renewal season has seen large rate increases in catastrophe-exposed and loss-affected contracts, but there has not been wide market hardening.
Editor's comment: Time for a scrap over metal
As an avid music lover, the year end is always a good time to catch up with the inevitable flurry of ‘best of’ lists to make sure that I have not missed out on any gems.
News analysis: Lloyd’s CEO Ward outlines diversity message with ambitious three-year plan
The start of every New Year is inevitably accompanied by the desire to deliver on resolutions made the month before — and Lloyd’s is no different.
Market moves: Insurers lead the way in recruitment
As the industry heads into 2012, insurers appear to be the most active in the recruitment space. Leading the way in Chaucer, with five new global hires, and Chubb, which brought in four new faces for the new year. Meanwhile, Tokio Marine added two staff…
Broker networks: New kid on the block
As Brokerdrive arrives on the scene, the debate over the merits of the traditional network model is revisited.
My best 11 - Dave Smith, Zurich
Dave Smith, managing director of commercial broker at Zurich, picks his Best XI for a potential insurance start-up firm. Smith has relied on intermediaries and his colleague Mario Greco to lead the charge, with Wolves legend Steve Bull leading the line.
BGL linked with Minster Law swoop as insurer/broker ABS uptake tipped to rise
The on-going backlash over referral fees has been credited as both a hindrance and catalyst for insurers and brokers seeking alternative business structures.
Andy Webb quits L&G
Legal & General has confirmed that its operations director of the general insurance business has left the company for “personal reasons.”