Commercial
Biba to open AI Academy
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association is working with Markel to offer an AI Academy for the trade body’s members.
Axa UK recruits Dunn from Zurich to replace retiring commercial CUO Ovenden
Axa UK Commercial has recruited Zurich’s Caroline Dunn as chief underwriting officer to replace the retiring incumbent, David Ovenden.
Markel launches life science combined
Markel has launched life science combined created specifically for SMEs operating in the sector.
Video Q&A: Arch’s Mark McGrady on the importance of getting to know customers in the emerging liability space
In this video – the last in a three part series – Mark McGrady, liability underwriting manager, UK regions, Arch discusses the opportunities in the emerging liability space.
JMG spend on deals surges to new high in year before PE investment
JMG Group spent £89.62m on buying in 2024/25, the financial year ahead of private equity firm GTCR investing alongside existing backer PE house Synova and the broker’s leadership team.
QBE gets ready to launch into media PI
QBE is preparing to launch into the media professional indemnity market and has recruited two underwriters ahead of rolling out the product.
Seventeen Group boosted turnover but losses widened in run-up to PE investment
Seventeen Group grew turnover by 16.4% to £52.76m in 2024 helped by 11 acquisitions however the cost of the deals hit the bottom line.
Gallagher names Belfast and Bristol office bosses
Gallagher has appointed Michael McLaverty as head of its Belfast office and expanded Mark Holmes’s role to included being managing director of the Bristol office.
SRG starts 2026 buying with Kennett
In its first deal of the year, Specialist Risk Group has agreed to buy Kennett Insurance & Risk Management, which has offices in Hull and Leeds.
Interview: Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald, Partners&
Partners& leaders Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald on phase three of the broker as it hits profitability ahead of schedule and plans to near double in the next three years.
Partners& seals first deal of 2026 with North East buy
Partners& has made its first acquisition of the year with the purchase of STP Risk Solutions, a chartered insurance broker based in Hull.
UK & Ireland CEO Stephanie Ogden leaves HDI for Munich Re
Stephanie Ogden, CEO of HDI Global UK & Ireland, will leave on 31 January ahead of joining Munich Re on 1 March.
Motor MGA KGM boosts Zurich deal to £2bn+ over five years
KGM has renewed its capacity deal with Zurich for a further five years tapping into backing for over £2bn in gross written premium, Insurance Age can reveal.
Axa Commercial CEO Walker to head retail arm on interim basis after Zweibrucker exit
Axa has confirmed that its UK commercial CEO, Jon Walker, has also taken interim control of its retail business while it finds a replacement for the former incumbent, Alain Zweibrucker.
Aon’s Andersen to replace Zaffino as AIG CEO
AIG has announced that group chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino intends to retire and transition to executive chair by mid-year.
Coalition UK expands footprint
Cyber insurer Coalition has expanded its ability to deliver cover to organisations based in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, the remaining Channel Islands, and Gibraltar.
MGU recruits NEDs from Google and Microsoft and opens Lloyd’s box
Managing general underwriter Advanced Technology Assurance has recruited a pair of former big tech executives to its board and opened an underwriting desk in Lloyd’s.
Partners& reveals first annual pre-tax and operating profits
Partners& has revealed pre-tax profit of £2.38m and operating profit of £1.82m, turning its red ink to black for the first time in its history across the two key metrics.
W Denis maintains profits as turnover dips
Leeds-headquartered broker W Denis kept pre-tax profits at £1.55m in the year ended 30 June 2025 despite turnover slipping 13.1%.
TBIG closed 2025 with seventh deal
The Broker Investment Group completed its seventh deal of 2025 at the end of December backing The Needham Group to buy Black Lion Broking Services.
End of Year Review 2025: Zurich Insurance’s Nikki Lidster
Nikki Lidster, head of SME at Zurich Insurance, reminisces about connecting with broker partners at the Biba Conference and promises if they want to get in touch with the business, they will get through to a skilled Zurich employee – never a bot.