Articles by Emmanuel Kenning
US cyber specialist promotes UK boss to chief commercial officer
Cowbell has promoted Simon Hughes to chief commercial officer stepping up from being senior vice president of global distribution and general manager of the UK.
Aviva brings charity activities in Community Fund and Foundation together
Aviva has unveiled a simplified structure for its charitable activity bringing together the Aviva Community Fund and its previous grant-making programme, the Foundation, into a single offering.
Virtual Agents specialist Unitary becomes Biba associate member
Unitary has joined the British Insurance Brokers’ Association as an associate member, in a move the automation platform claimed strengthened its commitment to supporting the UK broker community.
Biba and ABI join forces on ‘Total Signposting’ initiative
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers have launched a new voluntary industry-wide Total Signposting Commitment.
Financial lines MGA Verde Risk Management launches
Verde Risk Management has launched, specialising in the financial lines market, predominantly commercial crime, management liability and financial institutions.
CII to move to new headquarters in London
The Chartered Insurance Institute Group will move its global HQ and London base to 30 Old Broad Street in the City of London from 2 March 2026.
Cyber remains top business risk but AI rising fast in Allianz Risk Barometer
Cyber incidents created many headlines in 2025 and are still the biggest worry for UK companies in 2026, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer.
Markel launches life science combined
Markel has launched life science combined created specifically for SMEs operating in the sector.
Amiga Specialty boosts financial institutions offering with Lloyd’s capacity
Amiga Specialty has secured Lloyd’s capacity to support its financial institutions proposition as the managing general agent continues to expand its offering since being launched last year.
JMG spend on deals surges to new high in year before PE investment
JMG Group spent £89.62m on buying in 2024/25, the financial year ahead of private equity firm GTCR investing alongside existing backer PE house Synova and the broker’s leadership team.
Circle within a whisker of £10m turnover
The parent company of Circle Insurance Services grew turnover in the year ended 30 April 2025 as profits recovered compared to the prior period.
QBE gets ready to launch into media PI
QBE is preparing to launch into the media professional indemnity market and has recruited two underwriters ahead of rolling out the product.
Nexus buys medical tourism specialist MGA
Brown & Brown-owned managing general agent Nexus Underwriting has bought Sure Insurance Services, a provider of specialist solutions for the medical tourism industry.
Seventeen Group boosted turnover but losses widened in run-up to PE investment
Seventeen Group grew turnover by 16.4% to £52.76m in 2024 helped by 11 acquisitions however the cost of the deals hit the bottom line.
Gallagher names Belfast and Bristol office bosses
Gallagher has appointed Michael McLaverty as head of its Belfast office and expanded Mark Holmes’s role to included being managing director of the Bristol office.
SRG starts 2026 buying with Kennett
In its first deal of the year, Specialist Risk Group has agreed to buy Kennett Insurance & Risk Management, which has offices in Hull and Leeds.
Interview: Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald, Partners&
Partners& leaders Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald on phase three of the broker as it hits profitability ahead of schedule and plans to near double in the next three years.
CFC extends ‘flagship’ SME cyber cover
CFC has launched a customer business interruption extension to its ‘flagship’ cyber proactive response cover for SMEs.
UK & Ireland CEO Stephanie Ogden leaves HDI for Munich Re
Stephanie Ogden, CEO of HDI Global UK & Ireland, will leave on 31 January ahead of joining Munich Re on 1 March.
Motor MGA KGM boosts Zurich deal to £2bn+ over five years
KGM has renewed its capacity deal with Zurich for a further five years tapping into backing for over £2bn in gross written premium, Insurance Age can reveal.
Jensten reveals deal hattrick
Jensten Group has bought Broker One in Scotland, Coversure Dudley and Mediprotect Healthcare.
Quietest Q4 and annual M&A totals in years, says MarshBerry
There are “arguably no immediate catalysts that will likely push deal activity up to 2023/24 levels for the foreseeable future”.
Home premiums flatten in Q4 – Pearson Ham
Combined home buildings and contents premiums slipped marginally in the fourth quarter of 2025 but the nearly flat results signalled a significant shift from the sharper cuts earlier in the year, according to the latest research by Pearson Ham.
Ex-Towergate leader and former Esure CEO join Jensten board
Former Esure CEO David McMillan has joined Jensten Group as non-executive chair, teaming up again with Bain Capital.