Articles by Rosie Simms
Ex-Lloyd’s CEO John Neal heads to AIG, reversing Aon move
John Neal is set to join AIG as president effective 1 December 2025, having previously been destined for Aon.
Consilium launches first casualty binder and hires from Dual
Wholesale broker Consilium has launched a casualty binder for its UK division, Consilium Risk Solutions, with the exclusive broker facility backed by A-rated delegated authority capacity.
Insurtech Laka secures $10.4m in funding
London-based insurtech Laka, which bought the renewal rights to CoverCloud’s bike portfolio last year, has raised $10.4m (£7.73m) in a Series B funding round.
Liberty launches crypto protection product
Liberty Specialty Markets has launched a dedicated product for financial institutions operating in the cryptocurrency market.
Biba calls for regulation ‘reset’ in open letter to Chancellor
Graeme Trudgill, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, has called for bold action from the UK Chancellor to reset regulation for a more proportionate framework.
W Denis launches specialist data centre insurance division
W Denis has launched a specialist division focused on insuring data centres and the integrated power generation infrastructure.
MGAs ‘extremely focused’ on broker distribution in softening market - Keating
MGAs are “extremely focused” on distribution, according to Mike Keating, CEO of the Managing General Agents’ Association, as he also detailed how the claims process needs to be deconstructed and put back together.
Axa’s Walker and Aviva’s Storah tackle monthly payments, flooding and Consumer Duty in parliamentary session
Jon Walker, CEO of Axa Commercial, has highlighted the valuable service of pay monthly options, and urged the government to increase flood defence spending, in a parliamentary session held earlier this week.
People Moves: 7 – 11 July 2025
Stay in the loop with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Allianz confirms Graham Stait as director of UK markets following Carey exit
Allianz Commercial has confirmed Graham Stait as director of UK markets, after holding the role of director of mid-market on an interim basis since August 2024.
Petchey: “Strong demand” in schemes gives Markel opportunity to diversify
Mike Petchey, head of schemes at Markel, is seeing “strong demand” in the market, highlighting the number of possibilities when it comes to schemes is enormous.
Markel adds pre-loss services to Cyber360
Markel has launched its pre-loss services for UK Cyber360 policyholders, to help clients minimise cyber risks.
Underwriting discipline key for MGAs
Gavin Dollings, chief underwriting officer at Rockstone Commercial, has highlighted that “flawless execution” of underwriting discipline is key for managing general agents as brokers want consistency of appetite.
Data – a ‘superpower’ in a business
Data was a “superpower” in a business, Mark McIlquham UK CEO of Acrisure told the audience at the Managing General Agents’ Association 2025 conference on 3 July, in a discussion where cross-selling was also to the fore.
FCA’s Brewis responds to 15-hour training removal pushback
Matt Brewis, director of insurance at the FCA, has responded to the pushback against the watchdog proposing to end the specified minimum hours of training and development required for insurance employees.
People Moves: 30 June – 4 July 2025
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
‘An MGA is for life not just for Christmas’ – Dual’s Dixon
Managing general agents need to get away from transactional relationships and move into “deeper, more sustainable” ones with carriers, brokers and policyholders, according to Catherine Dixon, chief underwriting officer at Dual.
Brokers brought into scope of FCA’s bullying and harassment misconduct rules
The Financial Conduct Authority is extending the scope of serious bullying and harassment in financial firms qualifying as misconduct to around 37,000 regulated firms, including insurance brokers.
Simply Business operating profit soars almost 90% in 2024
Xbridge, which trades as Simply Business, increased operating profit to £45.91m for the year ended 31 December 2024, up almost 90% from the previous year.
Home insurance premiums fall 3.8% in Q2
Home insurance premiums continued to fall in the second quarter of 2025 with the average top five prices down by 3.8%, according to Pearson Ham.
MBC rebrands to Clear Insurance Ireland
McAuliffe Barry & Collins Insurance (trading as MBC Insurance and Techinsure.ie) has rebranded as Clear Insurance Ireland.
Credit and political risk broker completes EOT switch
The Texel Group, a credit and political risk insurance broker, has completed its transition to 100% employee ownership through the creation of the Texel employee ownership trust.
CMA greenlights Aviva’s takeover of DLG
The Competition and Markets Authority has today cleared Aviva’s takeover of Direct Line Group.
Hiscox launches cargo API
Hiscox has launched a cargo application programming interface-based solution, available through broker partners for underwriting small cargo and stock throughput risks.