Insurer
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.”
Claims double following storms
GAB Robins said that heavy rain forecast for today in the west of Scotland could lead to flooding.
Fraud unit makes first arrest
The insurer-funded police fraud unit made its first arrest yesterday hours after launching.
IAG secures multi-year reinsurance protection
Insurance Australia Group has finalised its catastrophe reinsurance programme for the period commencing 1 January 2012, encompassing protection of up to $4.7bn ($3.63bn), compared to $4.1bn in 2011.
Biba members to benefit from crime requirements checking facility
Members of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association will be kept up to speed with their obligations under the Terrorism Act and the Financial Services Authority’s financial crime requirements following the association’s launch of a checking facility.
Allianz contract with breast implant maker invalid
Financial Times Deutschland has reported that Allianz claims its insurance contract with the French breast implant maker, Poly Implant Prosthesis, is invalid.
Allianz Legal Protection boosts finance team
Allianz Legal Protection has strengthened its finance department to provide additional commercial and financial support to its senior management team.
MENA Insurance think tank welcomes three CEOs
MENA Insurance CEO Club has welcomed three industry veterans to its exclusive club, taking the total to 17.
Axa warns 2012 could be 'worst on record' for household claims
Claims forecasters at Axa believe that a combination of factors such as a high proportion of public events and unusual weather conditions could make 2012 one of the worst years on record for home insurance claims.
Marsh completes acquisition of Alexander Forbes' brokerage business
Broker Marsh has completed its acquisition of the brokerage business of Alexander Forbes.
Nat-cats make 2011 the costliest year ever
A sequence of devastating earthquakes and a large number of weather-related catastrophes made 2011 the costliest year ever in terms of natural catastrophe losses, Munich Re’s annual natural catastrophe review has found.
Ascot forms underwriting consortium for power generation
Ascot Underwriting has formed the Strategic Power Consortium, a dedicated technical underwriting vehicle for the power and utilities industry.
Lorica boosts 'ambitious plans' with hires
Lorica Insurance Brokers has made a host of UK appointments.
ASA bans 'misleading' Direct Line ad
The Advertising Standards Authority has castigated Direct Line over a landlords’ insurance ad, featuring TV presenter Sarah Beeny, that claimed the insurer would beat any quote when it actually had a minimum price.