Articles by Emmanuel Kenning
Broking Success: Targeting growth
Neal Lowe, managing director of Needham Insurance Services, tells Insurance Age about striking deals and serving local communities as the broker targets £20m of gross written premium by 2025.
FCA fails to hit target for over half of AR applications
The Financial Conduct Authority only met its processing speed target for 44.7% of appointed representative notifications in 2021/22, the watchdog has revealed.
Allianz names Ashish Patel as COO
Allianz Holdings has appointed Ashish Patel as chief operating officer after Stephanie Smith left at the end of 2021.
Consumers rank broker knowledge equal with price
There remains an untapped well of potential clients for brokers made up of consumers valuing knowledge on a par with product price, according to the findings of exclusive research for Insurance Age.
Drop in insurance pricing complaints at FOS
The Financial Ombudsman Service has highlighted a 33.4% fall in complaints about insurance pricing in 2021/22.
GRP strikes first deal after Brown & Brown takeover
Global Risk Partners has bought Maidstone-based First Insurance Solutions in its first deal since the takeover by Brown & Brown completed earlier this month.
Consumers back compulsory qualifications for brokers
Exclusive research for Insurance Age has laid bare that consumers want brokers to have a professional qualification in order to do the job.
Attis forecasts hitting £60m GWP in 2022 and £100m by 2024
Joe Henderson-backed Attis Insurance has grown its headcount to over 100 people from 75 at the start of the year with the commercial broker predicting revenue of over £6m for 2022.
Ripe grows turnover in 2021 with profits stable
Ripe Thinking has reported a 24% rise in turnover to £23.27m for 2021.
Analysis: The challenge to build back better – as trust in insurance drops
Consumer trust in insurance has fallen over the past 12 months, but experts can see a route to a brighter future. Emmanuel Kenning reports.
Sabre warns of surging claims costs as motor GWP and profit drops
Gross written premium in Sabre’s motor book has dropped around 10.6% compared to the same period in 2021, the insurer has revealed in its half year results.
Ataraxia ups stake in Whitefield Insurance Brokers
Ataraxia has boosted its shareholding in Greater Manchester-based Whitefield Insurance Brokers to 49%.
U-turn revives PFS CEO role
The Personal Finance Society is seeking an interim CEO ahead of recruiting for a permanent successor to Keith Richards.
Flood Re posts 18% policy growth
Flood Re has reported covering 256,634 policies in the year ended 31 March 2022, up 17.7% on the previous 12 months.
FCA says all options on table ahead of possible phased implementation period for Consumer Duty
Brokers have been urged to prepare for the April deadline as the Financial Conduct Authority ponders changes to the implementation period for Consumer Duty regulations.
Car premiums up 7.8% since start of 2022
The cost of car insurance has risen 7.8% since the start of the year after new rules came in to tackle the practice of “price walking”, research by Consumer Intelligence has revealed.
FSCS broker pot pays out £7m compensation in 2021/22 after levies of £13m
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has revealed that the broker levy pot paid out £7m in compensation in 2021/22, less than half the £15m total in 2020/21.
Sam White’s Freedom Services Group adds David Williams as first NED
Former Axa leader David Williams has joined Freedom Services Group, consisting of managing general agent Pukka, Freedom Brokers and claims management service Action 365, as a non-executive director, Insurance Age can reveal.
Biba adds Covéa as partner
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has added Covéa Insurance to its roster of partners taking the total to 20.
AM Best upgrades Aviva ratings
AM Best has upgraded the financial strength rating of Aviva Insurance to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent).
Biba reports return to growth in 2021
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has reported a £211,410 rise in net assets for 2021.
Lorega finds “natural home” at Ardonagh
Lorega will go to the “next level” under Ardonagh’s ownership, former leader and current CEO of Vizion Insurance Brokers John Sims has predicted.
Brown & Brown completes GRP takeover
US-headquartered Brown & Brown has completed the takeover of consolidator Global Risk Partners.
Ardonagh buys Lorega
Ardonagh’s managing general agent segment Geo Underwriting has bought loss recovery insurance MGA and assistance specialist Lorega, Insurance Age can reveal.