Property
Fire risks - kitchen ducts: Grease is the word
Improper cleaning of extraction units in the hospitality and catering sectors can cause devastating fires. Allister Smith looks at the facts.
Climate change - flood defences: Manning the defences
With the government cutting the budget for flood and coastal risk management and the coming expiry of the Statement of Principles, Amy Ellis looks at the future of flood defence.
Postbox: Praise for BDMA training
I was delighted to see your feature highlighting the excellent work done by the British Damage Management Association
Merlin cuts loss by £50m after refinancing
Loss adjusting group Merlin has admitted its ability to win new business has been significantly helped by its recent refinancing.
Endsleigh launches “unique” student policy
Student insurer Endsleigh has launched an insurance policy specifically tailored for groups of students living together.
MMA names property underwriter
Insurer MMA has appointed Dennis Chapman as an account underwriter for the commercial property owners product.
Aviva wins out in Santander Bank household insurance tender
Aviva has won a competitive tender process for the distribution of household insurance products to Santander.
Post Europe Q&A – ALC Health
In the latest of our regular focus on European insurance companies and brokers, Post Europe talks to Sue Wilson, director for the European office of ALC Health.
Former Chartis staff join Ace
Ace UK has made two appointments to its Midlands regional management team.
QBE Europe H1 profits increase to $222m
QBE Europe reported a pre-tax insurance profit of $222m (H1 2009: $213M). Its gross written premium for the first half of 2010 was up 8% to US$2.412bn (2009 US$2.228bn).
Brit appoints Ray Cox as UK CEO
Brit Insurance has confirmed Ray Cox will succeed Peter Burrows as the chief executive officer of its UK Strategic Business Unit.
RSA spotlight - Bob Mendelsohn: Whatever happened to Bob?
Having promised RSA that he would make it his mission to track down its former CEO Bob Mendelsohn to mark the firm's 300th anniversary, Jonathan Swift's job was made somewhat easier than anticipated when he resurfaced at US insurer Navigators last week…
Warning over buildings insurance errors
Homeowners are at risk of paying extra for their buildings insurance by falling foul of an error of insuring at market value rather than at rebuilding cost.
FSA crackdown: whistleblower helps ban unauthorised broker
A whistleblower has helped ban an unauthorised insurance broker from performing any regulated role in financial services, after he was caught using client money to fund a new broking business.
Brokers worry about client choice as RSA bids for Aviva
Brokers have voiced concern that RSA's £5bn bid for parts of Aviva's general insurance business, including the UK, could ultimately limit client choice and competition.
Allianz sees local GI premiums shrink by 3% in H1 2010
In the first half of 2010, Allianz Deutschland AG increased revenues 6 percent, to €15.2 bn (H1 2009: €14.3 bn).
Allianz sees Eastern European GI profits fall 54% in H1
Allianz in Central and Eastern Europe today reported total premiums increased by 5 percent to €2bn, from €1.9bn in the first half of 2009.
L&E enters solicitors' PI market
Property specialist London & European is to offer professional indemnity insurance for solicitors.
Rok suspends finance director
Rok has suspended its finance director after an independent review uncovered serious failings in the financial control of its plumbing, heating and electrical business.
Imperial Consultants appoints new MD
Imperial Consultants has appointed Ian Hogarth, the firm’s current client development director, to the position of managing director.
Groupama boss hails effort in stopping motor 'bleeding'
Groupama chief executive François-Xavier Boisseau has said the insurer has gone some way to stopping the "bleeding" of its private motor account, as it reported its results for the first half of 2010.
First significant household fraud conviction
The imprisonment of two men for trying to defraud insurance companies for household claims worth more than £100 000 has been described as the industry's first significant conviction for household fraud.
Editor's comment - RBSI: happy at home
Following the announcements of staff cuts and the possible withdrawal of NIG from personal lines, Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance showed its hand this week, and it was — to say the least — a little soiled by bodily injury claim losses.
RBSI CEO cries injustice as it is hit with 30 PPOs
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance's decision to strengthen its reserves by £320m in lieu of bodily injury claims has contributed to an operating loss of £253m in the first six months of the year.