Articles by Rosie Simms
People Moves: 21 – 25 July 2025
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Can brokers doggy paddle their way to pet insurance success?
What are the opportunities for brokers in selling pet insurance and why are so few people talking about it? Insurance Age explores the market and explains why long-standing competition and data – or lack of it – are potentially the biggest obstacles.
Zurich UK hires Asha Kumar as its first CTO
Asha Kumar has joined Zurich UK from HSBC as chief technology officer, a newly created role.
MGA Arkel secures £120m AmTrust capacity
Specialist managing general agent Arkel has secured an increased limit of £120m gross written premium of A-rated capacity with AmTrust over the next three years for non-standard household insurance.
South African insurer relaunches in the UK
Santam, Africa’s largest short-term insurer, has been granted in-principle approval by Lloyd’s to launch Santam Syndicate 1918.
Native launches risk collective to lower premiums for crypto and digital assets
Digital assets is the most excluded asset class in insurance however insurers are looking to dip their toes in, and with AI compute alone seeing trillions of dollars invested it makes it the biggest opportunity in insurance today.
FCA urges improvements after uncovering “concerning evidence” of poor claims handling
The Financial Conduct Authority has urged insurers for improvements in claims handling whilst acknowledging rising motor premiums are mostly driven by external cost pressures.
Verlingue signs multi-year partnership with MGA Alps
Managing general agent Alps has extended its decade long partnership with Verlingue Insurance Brokers with a new multi-year deal.
Fairer Finance calls for government intervention on ‘discriminatory’ insurance pricing models
Fairer Finance has tackled unfair and discriminatory pricing models driving a “poverty premium”, and called for the government and regulators to intervene as it made five recommendations.
Aviva doubles offshore renewable energy capacity to £150m
Aviva has doubled its offshore renewable energy capacity to £150m, with Roberts Proskovics appointed to lead the insurer’s renewable energy team.
Aviva’s rising stars programme sees cohort promotions
Poppy Keys, construction commercial broker executive at ABA Insurance Commercial, has implemented a number of changes following Aviva’s rising stars programme, as five of its participants gain promotions.
People Moves: 14 – 18 July 2025
Follow the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Pen deepens SiriusPoint partnership with PI capacity deal
Pen Underwriting has expanded its partnership with SiriusPoint with a new capacity deal for international professional indemnity risks.
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.