Insurer
Inward-looking nature is holding back industry, claims IBM partner
The insurance industry's ability to execute intelligent decisions in the form of rules-based 'next best' actions is hampered by its "inward-looking" nature and failure to extrapolate from external experiences.
Technology reliance must not hinder contingency plans
Robust contingency plans must be in place to avoid over-reliance on technology, panellists warned.
Axa axes innovation hub
Axa has confirmed that its Insurance Innovation Hub is no longer in place following CEO Paul Evans' move to break-up the personal and commercial lines general insurance businesses.
Disease claims: amendments to the pre-action protocol for disease
Recent amendments to the pre-action protocol for disease and illness claims underline that the claims process is a genuine two-way street. Ian Macalister details the encouraging changes.
Legal update - winter damage claims
Severe cold snaps during the past two winters have propelled potholes to centre stage, provoking liability claims. Caroline Elson explains the arguments and outcomes of recent cases.
Public sector reveals way on administration savings
The insurance industry could do worse than look to its public sector counterparts to learn how 'intelligent decisioning' can simplify complex processes and witness the value of claims automation.
Post history - 50 years ago: RAC backs bad driver punishment
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 50 years ago reveals.
Interview – Peter Halpin: keeping Swinton on the acquisition track
Swinton CEO Peter Halpin had a lot to live up to - following, as he did, in Patrick Smith’s footsteps. He talks to Leigh Jackson about taking the company forward and continuing its impressive acquisition record.
People moves – 10 March 2011
A round-up of people moves and new appointments in the industry, as featured in the 10 March 2011 edition of Post.
Climate change – are insurers getting behind their own green policies?
With the general public becoming ‘bored’ by environmental issues, Veronica Cowan asks if insurers are really getting behind their own green policies.
Allianz calls on brokers to better BI basics
Allianz insurance has urged brokers to go “back to basics” to ensure more commercial customers are provided with adequate business interruption cover.
Catastrophe losses hold back Hardy profits
Hardy Underwriting’s profits halved to £10m during 2010, after it faced a string of international catastrophe losses with a net value of £37m.
Novae: UK corporation tax may force us to redomicile
Novae chief executive Matthew Fosh has said the UK’s economic landscape is set to force the insurer to redomicile, so it can remain competitive and yield bigger returns for shareholders.
Amlin blames earthquakes for £250m drop in profit
Amlin will monitor rate increases in earthquake zones in 2011, after blaming significant catastrophe activity for a £250m drop in profit for 2010.
ELTO pushes for 100% coverage
Ace has become the final major insurer to sign up to the employers’ Liability tracing Office.
LMIE aims for slice of mid-corp market
Liberty Mutual insurance Europe is targeting rivals Ace and Chubb for a larger slice of the mid-corporate market - a sector it believes will act as a “springboard” into the wider UK market.
EC plans to standardise tax
The European Council’s proposals to standardise taxes across member states could mean fewer insurance companies look to redomicile to countries such as Ireland.
New ABI DG to focus on consumer issues
The Association of British Insurers’ new director general has pledged to put consumer issues across general insurance and life & pensions at the centre of the organisation’s strategy.
Admiral not confused over aggregator
Admiral has vowed to retain Confused, despite the aggregator’s profit falling by 54% in the past three years.
Aviva gears up for telematics return as motor rates rise
Aviva has mooted reintroducing telematics technology for private cars during 2011, according to UK chief executive Mark Hodges.
Chaucer profits fall due to cat exposure
Chaucer has attributed its fall in profit and property underwriting loss to its exposure to global catastrophes.
Penny Black’s insurance week
Penny was fortunate to be sunning herself in southern Spain earlier this week. With only a mild case of sunburn to attend to, she was shocked to hear one of her insurer pals had experienced a rather more unfortunate injury on his holiday.
View from the top: an updating challenge
Well, spring has sprung and yet, with the exception of the personal lines motor market, there is still no sign of any rate-hardening green shoots.
Editor’s comment: two new faces to watch
With Google this week snapping up beat that Quote for a little under £40m, and web design firm Vast Visibility simultaneously buying two specialist bike and van price comparison sites, aggregators are very much the insurance ‘buy du jour’.