Articles by Insurance Age staff
Gallagher boss Rea to replace Aon’s Kielty as Biba deputy chair
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has announced that Michael Rea, Gallagher’s UK CEO, will be the association’s next deputy chair.
End of Year Review 2025: Bspoke’s Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan, managing director of Bspoke Sports & Leisure, echoes the concerns of others over the speed the market has softened; hails the work of Ajay Mistry in championing transparency and diversity; and shares a giant darts nickname.
Clear Group co-founder Lickens to retire
The Clear Group has announced that Howard Lickens, co-founder of the business with Gary O’Donnell, will retire at the end of this year.
End of Year Review 2025: Allianz Personal’s Graham Wright
Graham Wright, managing director – broker (interim) at Allianz Personal, acknowledges customers have benefited from the soft market, muses about whether consolidation has suppressed new entrants and keeps his cards close to his chest over the insurer’s…
End of Year Review 2025: SSP Broker’s Martyn Mathews
SSP Broker managing director Martyn Mathews crosses his fingers for the roll-out of a pilot insurance-in-education programme in 10-20 secondary schools, and looks to Star Trek for AI-related inspiration.
£40m GWP broker eyes first acquisition after securing growth funding
Lytham-headquartered Tower Insurance Brokers has secured a multi-million pound growth funding facility from TDC.
Esure CEO Martin-Simon to depart as Ageas unveils new direct MD
Ageas UK has announced that the Esure CEO Peter Martin-Simon is to leave the company in April next year six months after taking up the role.
End of Year Review 2025: SiriusPoint International’s Rob Gibbs
Rob Gibbs, president and CEO of SiriusPoint International, highlights its success in rejecting the ‘spread betting’ approach to MGAs and instead partnering with ones that are really moving the dial; and suggests ‘Another soft market: Are we all delulu?’…
End of Year Review 2025: Direct Commercial’s Joe Hantson
Joe Hantson, deputy CEO at Direct Commercial Limited, notes the amount of senior underwriting talent moving from traditional carriers into MGA models over the last 12 months and expects more consolidation among MGAs and insurtechs in 2026.
End of Year Review 2025: Liiba’s Chris Croft
Chris Croft, the CEO of the London & International Insurance Brokers’ Association, describes the UK government’s financial services strategy as “depressingly insurer focused” and imagines an AI persona with a 1986 style perm in honour of footballer…
End of Year Review 2025: Alps’ Michelle O’Reilly
Michelle O’Reilly, managing director at Alps, expresses disappointment that whilst some parts of the market have talked a good game on innovation and customer care, they have not followed through; and predicts 2026 could be the year the Financial Conduct…
Have your say: Shape the future of Insurance Age
Insurance Age is inviting you to help shape its future by taking part in a short readership survey.
EY offers gloomier forecast for 2026 motor market with latest analysis
The UK motor insurance market is expected to only break even in 2025, and be loss-making in 2026, according to EY’s latest analysis.
Howden replaces Douglas as climate and resilience lead with new impact officer
Howden has appointed Nick Stace OBE to the newly created role of chief global impact officer.
End of Year Review 2025: Flood Re’s Kelly Ostler-Coyle
Kelly Ostler-Coyle, director of corporate affairs, Flood Re bemoans the fact that not enough brokers are talking to clients about Build Back Better and pays respect to “the Welsh titan of the insurance industry” Amanda Blanc.
Premium Credit signs up another top 100 broker
Premium Credit has signed a three-year agreement to be One Sure’s exclusive provider of premium finance for personal lines.
End of Year Review 2025: Open GI’s Neil Hart
Neil Hart, chief sales officer at Open GI, reflects on the ‘old chestnut’ that the cheapest cover isn’t always the best and suggests ‘His Highness’ as his darts alter ego for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Meet the MGA: Arrow Risk Management
Arrow Risk Management CEO Jon Godfray explains how the MGA combines decades of expertise, cutting edge technology and underwriting excellence to create what he hopes the market recognises as a ‘quality shop’.
US insurer to target new brokers with company market play
Westfield Specialty International has announced plans to expand its business from a Lloyd’s-only vehicle into the company market.
End of Year Review 2025: VIPR’s Paul Templar
VIPR CEO and co-founder Paul Templar is impressed by the MGAs publicly committing to modernisation and brokers championing data transparency; whilst also paying homage to British mathematician Ada Lovelace.
Podcast: Reid and Clegg present Double Indemnity – episode six, Admiral’s Henry Engelhardt
For the sixth episode of Double Indemnity, Stuart Reid and Toby Clegg sit down with the Admiral CEO Emeritus Henry Engelhardt, who offers insights into why a “can do” and “think big” attitude, alongside deliberately targeting drivers paying higher…
End of Year Review 2025: Premium Credit’s Owen Thomas
Owen Thomas, chief sales officer at Premium Credit, applauds how Biba and the FCA have collaborated this year, suggests a top 5 commercial insurer might get snapped up in 2026 and predicts great things for Lee Mooney at Markel.
End of Year Review 2025: Commercial Express’ Duncan Pritchard
Commercial Express founder and managing director Duncan Pritchard bemoans inconsistent claims service and suggests ‘Rizzilience: Confidence in a Changing Market’ for the 2026 Biba Conference theme.
Howden hires from Gallagher to target $600m space insurance market
Howden has established a new dedicated space insurance capability led by industry veteran Clive Strickland.