Insurer
Geneva Association appoints actuarial science specialist
Global insurance think tank, The Geneva Association, has appointed Illinois state university Professor, Krzysztof Ostaszewski, as the research director of its life and pensions programme.
Market moves: Bucking the trend for UK employment
With September in full swing, announcements of moves around the market are arriving thick and fast. After the dearth of recruitment news in August, disciplines across the industry spectrum appear busy luring expertise from competitors, promoting from…
Helvetia sells health and accident portfolio
Helvetia Switzerland is divesting itself of its health and accident portfolio.
Greek government issues second IPT penalty amnesty
The Greek parliament has passed a law that includes a further amnesty provision on penalties for insurance premium tax.
AM Best receives European credit approval
AM Best Europe has received formal notice of registration as an approved European credit rating agency under the Credit Rating Regulatory Regime of the European Union.
RSA launches campaign to change eyesight testing
RSA bosses are calling for sweeping changes to the process behind how driver’s eyesight is tested following the launch of a nationwide campaign to see if motorists are ‘Fit to Drive’.
Industry associations back Government regulation reform
Insurance and broker associations have welcomed the Government’s proposed regulatory reforms in their consultation responses. However, they have also expressed concern its plans could be too “ambitious” and potentially cause delays.
RBSI partners with Coutts
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance has landed its first affinity partnership with private bank and wealth manager, Coutts, following the launch of Select from Direct Line this year.
Penny Black’s insurance week
Penny is a firm believer in it never being too late to spice up life a little.
Comment - Civil litigation: You’re part of the problem
When the insurance industry launches a campaign to reform our “broken civil litigation system” it predictably wheels out dodgy statistics – including that complete nonsense of a report from Frontier Economics again — and dubious ‘facts’. It conveniently…
Website review: Castle Cover
Web performance specialist Gomez looks at Castle Cover’s website.
Social media: Hashing out hashtags
Has the insurance industry finally mastered the art of social networking?
Loss adjuster hit with year-long jail term for £18 500 Zurich theft
A loss adjuster has been sentenced to a year in prison for theft and deception, owing insurer Zurich up to £18 500.
MoJ to split referral ban enforcement role between industry regulators
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed the government’s proposed ban on referral fees is likely not to be centrally administered, but instead enforced by a collection of disparate regulatory authorities.
Editor's comment: The devil is in the detail
Just when consensus was building across the insurance industry that banning referral fees alone will not cure the UK civil litigation system of all its perceived ills, reduce car insurance premiums, or single-handedly wipe out personal injury claims…
Mooted HSBC GI sale a sign of the times
HSBC’s mooted plan to sell its general insurance arm is part of a growing trend of banks “retrenching”, according to an analyst.
Concerns sparked over quality of insurer supply chains
Leading insurers have raised “serious concerns” over the industry’s ability to handle water perils claims, with restoration companies shouldering a large proportion of the blame.
Insurers vow to pay squatting claims if informed of extended absence
Insurers have vowed to pay claims to policyholders whose properties are invaded by squatters — as long as they inform them if their home will be empty for long periods of time.
MGA data requests rise as Solvency II bites
Managing general agents will have to provide insurers with more detailed data to drive down the costs of implementing Solvency II, according to an underwriting and claims director at Towergate.
Ask the Expert
With all the recent turmoil in the markets, how is the insurance industry faring in terms of new job creation?
Career file - Peter Matson
Argo sets sights on expansion with Matson hire.
Career file - Greg Lawson
New head of retail at Collinson Insurance Group.
Wipro BIS countdown: Virtual reality check
Generations Y and Z can be targeted through social networking sites.
View from the top: Business as usual
In May, when I last wrote this column, all eyes were on mid-year reinsurance renewals given the pummelling that the year’s natural catastrophes had already delivered to reinsurers.