Articles by Emmanuel Kenning
European network targeting independent UK brokers
Trust Risk Control, a European network of independent insurance brokers, has signed an agreement with Asferica Consulting to provide a presence in the United Kingdom for brokers looking to compete for international business.
Brightside splits management roles
Brightside Group has decided to split the roles of chief executive officer and finance director citing the “interests of good governance”.
Axa raids Towergate for IT director
Axa Commercial Lines has appointed Ross Burns, formerly of Paymentshield, as the new IT director in Amanda Blanc’s senior leadership team.
Acquisitions an option for Jelf
Group chief executive at Jelf, Alex Alway, has confirmed the consolidator remains in the market for acquisitions but only at the right price.
Ink boosts PI team ahead of solicitors’ renewal season
Ink Insurance has appointed two lead underwriters from St Mary Underwriting as it looks to expand in the solicitors’ professional indemnity (PI) market.
Allianz launches motor add-on for retail brokers
Allianz has launched Allianz Pro-Motor Rescue, an add-on motor insurance product.
Revenue flat as Jelf moves into profit
Jelf has announced a profit before tax of £0.8m in its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2011 reversing its loss of £1.2m in 2010.
No resignations, no regrets says Homer
Andy Homer has confirmed that Towergate came close to making an internal appointment ahead of its decision to poach Mark Hodges from Aviva for the chief executive role.
Hodges to continue acquisition drive at Towergate
Towergate chairman Alastair Lyons said he was "absolutely delighted" at the arrival of Mark Hodges from Aviva and promised the company would continue on its broker acquisition path.
Aviva responds to Hodges' departure to Towergate
David McMillan, chief executive officer of UK general insurance at Aviva, has told Insurance Age that it is “business as usual” for Aviva following the shock departure of Mark Hodges to Towergate.
FirstAssist issues legal costs warning to SMEs
Small businesses, a core part of many brokers’ portfolios, continue to ignore the risk of costly legal action even though defending an average case could potentially put them out of business, according to research by FirstAssist Legal Protection.
APC revamps hoteliers and guest house owners policy ahead of Olympic tourist surge
APC has announced the re-launch of its hotel and guest house product with area rating designed to help brokers service UK proprietors looking to take advantage of the expected nationwide surge in tourist numbers resulting from the Olympics.
Broking success: Training to gain
Emmanuel Kenning speaks with a profitable, debt free start-up motor broker that is writing more than £50m a year, targeting 250,000 policies within 18 months and focusing on staff training and development
Update: Axa Commercial Lines unveils regional branch managers
Axa Commercial has confirmed a series of appointments across its branch network following its declared strategy of empowering local underwriters to service insurance brokers.
HMRC takes Lloyd's broker Swinglehurst to court
International insurance and reinsurance broker Swinglehurst is facing a High Court winding-up petition Insurance Age has learnt.
Is this the end of insurer love affair with MGAs?
Market flux fuels speculation over managing general agents sector
RSA buys into calm waters of marine
Insurer snaps up pleasure craft specialist despite softening marine sector
Brokers unconvinved by signs of market hardening
Lone suggestion that the commercial market could be on the cusp of changing is dismissed by rest of market.
More judicial reviews but no certainty of success, says RPC
There will be more judicial reviews following the decision by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to increase the top limit of awards by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) however recent events mean the regulators will be “emboldened” in defending…
Wave of new regulation tops insurance sector risks in poll
The greatest risk facing the insurance industry is the raft of new regulations being introduced simultaneously at international and local levels, according to a new survey.
Judicial reviews will rise after FOS award change, warns law firm
The announcement by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that the Financial Ombudsman Service's (FOS) maximum binding award is to be increased to £150,000 will lead to an increase in judicial reviews according to lawyers at Browne Jacobson.
No ban for referral fees, says LSB
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has recommended that referral fees be allowed to continue but with strengthened transparency obligations to manage their impact and prevent abuses.
FSA confirms new consumer complaint handling rules and ups FOS award limit to £150,000
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has confirmed new complaints handling rules as part of a package of measures designed to drive up standards within the industry.
Quinn losses reached €888m in 2009
Quinn Insurance lost €644m (£557m) in 2009, it has been revealed taking the overall group’s losses for the year to €888m.