Insurer
Zurich opens compliance database to the broker market
Zurich has confirmed it is to open its compliance and premium taxation database tool to the broker market.
Penny Black’s insurance week
Penny was not at the Conservative Party conference this week but couldn’t help but notice her chums at Lloyd’s broker Windsor, which does a bit of business with the Tories, had pulled a blinder on the publicity front.
Editor's comment: Quotas quickly quashed
Having responded to Business Secretary Vince Cable’s call to take the lead in addressing the gender imbalance on company boards, the insurance industry has resoundingly rejected the notion of quotas as a mechanism to tackle this persistent problem.
Market moves: Insurers lead the recruitment charge
With the final quarter of the year kicking off this week insurers were the most active recruiters with a raft of hires and promotions. XL Insurance added three new members of staff to its burgeoning team in Europe, while a number of other players seized…
New Zealand faces mass withdrawal as earthquake claims stack up
Insurers and reinsurers could stop providing earthquake cover in New Zealand altogether, forcing its government to handle claims.
Axa wins multi-year commercial deal from Aviva
Axa Commercial Lines has taken a strategic step towards its £1.2bn GWP target by winning a three-year deal from Aviva, the incumbent insurer of 25 years, for commercial property owners, Bruntwood.
Focus on personal injury fraud means insurers missing the bigger picture
Law firm Beachcroft has warned that insurers are so focused on personal injury fraud they are missing large-scale credit hire scams.
Ace heralds international efforts as fraudster jailed
Ace Europe has trumpeted its international claims investigation system, following the conviction of fraudster Anthony McErlean, who was jailed last week for attempting to claim £520 000 from the insurer after faking his own death.
Axa Assistance eyes £40m target with launch of Rok replacement service
Axa Assistance has launched its own home emergency service, spurred on by the demise of Rok Insurance Services, in a bid to gain greater control over customer service.
Airmic set to work with XL and industry on refined non-disclosure clause
Airmic’s non-disclosure clause, launched in a flurry of publicity in June, has kick-started a debate that could see it replaced by one drawn up by XL Insurance.
Straw to meet broker groups to discuss referral fees issue
Brokerbility has secured a meeting with Labour MP for Blackburn Jack Straw, pictured, next month in a bid to give him an industry perspective on referral fees.
BIS 2011: Underwriting no longer the preserve of Oxbridge grads
The future of underwriting rests in the hands of graduates with strong numeracy skills and business understanding, who are willing to embrace specialist areas of the industry.
BIS 2011: Industry must up government lobbying or risk unsustainable losses
Stronger engagement with national governments is essential to overcome the current insufficient focus on natural disaster mitigation and to push through long-term reforms that will help reduce total event cost.
News analysis: Quota calls for female board membership met with sharp scepticism
Stronger female representation on company boards is one of the recommendations laid down by the Association of British Insurers last week, in its first report on board effectiveness
Event insurance: Dancing in the street
Next year could be huge for the events industry, with the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics taking place. With a host of celebrations occurring, can the events insurance sector capitalise?
BIS 2011: ‘Sexy data’ set to change insurance industry
Delegates at the British Insurance Summit were told in no uncertain terms that technology and social media are here to stay and were urged to be a part of it.
BIS 2011: RBSI boss: telematics could create insurance underclass
Young drivers represent a huge reputational risk to insurers and telematics could create an uninsurable motor underclass unless the industry addresses urgent questions on data standards and ownership.
Agriculture: Reaping the rewards
With a rise in the theft of agricultural plant equipment, the industry and police are striking back with new initiatives.
View from the top: It’s no accident
The number of claims for accidental damage has fallen sharply in the past few years, which has far-reaching implications for the motor insurance, body shop and vehicle recovery sectors alike.
Expert analysis - aggregators: Mixing things up
Softening motor rates, more movement between best-price brands and augmented ancillary income emerge as aggregator themes
Interview - Simon Burley: Adjusting the image
Simon Burley, the new president of the CILA, promises to transform the image of the claims industry and improve the reputation of loss adjusters in the UK.
In series - Lloyd's & London Market: Technological challenges
After a slow start, Lloyd’s and the London market are embracing technological developments to drive down cost, time and errors. But is its embrace of new mediums firm and fast enough?
Zurich closes Santander acquisition
Zurich Financial Services Group has closed the acquisition of 51% participation in general insurance, life insurance and pension operations of Santander in Brazil and Argentina.
LV fraud boss issues warning as family receive jail time
The head of financial crime at LV insists that fraudulent claims are a growing problem for insurers, after a company investigation which resulted in a family of three being jailed for a combined 12 months.