Commercial
Towergate loses Blanc to Axa commercial lines
Axa has appointed Amanda Blanc as chief executive of its commercial lines business, which includes broker Bluefin.
Reportage - Defining schemes: Spoilt for choice
Coming in such a vast array of shapes and forms, it is difficult to define what schemes actually are. Tony Bloomer argues their ambiguity enables flexibility and innovation and, ultimately, opportunity for the industry.
Moorhouse online arm set to write £50m GWP
Welsh broker Moorhouse's online commercial arm Constructaquote is aiming to write £50m of gross written premium (GWP) by the end of 2013.
Towergate: SME provision deal 'just the beginning'
Towergate Insurance has claimed its deal with Comparethemarket.com to provide insurance to small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) customers is "just the beginning" of its online SME strategy.
Start-up brokers: New Year, new start-up?
What's on your New Year's resolutions for 2011? Get fit, give up the fags, start a new broking business? Malcolm Lee sets out what you need to consider to be a successful start-up broker.
Axa and Zurich reorganise management and operations
Axa and Zurich have revealed the results of internal restructures.
Brokers' expansion plans face lengthy delays
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is taking more than twice as long to approve regulated firms' expansion plans, known as a variation of permission.
Product launch: Bespoke car scheme policy
Aviva has launched a bespoke insurance policy for businesses that operate an employee salary sacrifice car scheme.
News review: December
A brief round-up of December's news.
Agenda: Hopes for the New Year
Ten years have passed since the dawn of the new millennium. The predictions of economic meltdown because of the millennium bug were false but we have seen crises that have had enormous impact on the global economy: 9/11, the crash of the dot-com bubble…
Product launch: Extended brand protection
Aon Risk Solutions has launched a restaurant contamination insurance policy that it claims offers a new level of brand protection for mid-sized chains.
Interview: In perfect focus
With sharp intelligence, good humour and unique perspective, industry consultant Clare Ryder shares her thoughts with Martin Friel about where the market has been and where it needs to go next.
Giles reveals turnover and earnings drop
The Giles Group’s full year results for the year ended 31 August 2010 has revealed a 3% drop in turnover to £70m (2009: £72.1m).
Oval scoops IRM ‘Insurance Broker of the Year’ award
Oval Insurance Broking has received the ‘Insurance Broker of the Year’ award from The Institute of Risk Management.
SRA consults on bringing sole practitioners in line with sector
The Solicitors' Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced it is consulting on a proposal to bring the process for authorising sole practitioner law firms (firms with only one principal, who can be a solicitor or a registered European lawyer) in line with…
Mid-corporates bullish about 2011, according to Chartis
Research by Chartis has found almost two thirds of mid-corporates are positive about the outlook for their business for the next 12 months.
Insurance Age blog: Bankers, music and brokers
Bankers just don’t get it, but do you? You might think that bankers in Ireland and the history of HMV have little to teach insurance brokers. But I beg to differ.
Marsh lures Tunnicliffe back from Aon
Andrew Tunnicliffe is to rejoin Marsh as UK head of Marsh Risk Consulting.
Product review: Biosurance R&D for life sciences R&D firms
This product has been reviewed by bbrokers and rated from one to five based on the policy's key benefits.
Bluefin hires ex-JLT man to senior role
Bluefin Insurance Services has appointed Mike Crisp to the newly created role of business development director in its corporate risks division.
Broking success – Wilby: To Halifax and beyond
Emmanuel Kenning meets a passionately independent broker twinning strong local service with national niche products to grow the business.
SRA consultation could scrap single renewal date for solicitors' PII
The Solicitors' Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed the removal of the single renewal date for professional indemnity insurance (PII) for firms from October 2011, so that they can renew cover at any time of the year.
Amanda Blanc leaves Towergate for Axa
Axa UK has appointed Amanda Blanc as CEO of its commercial lines business which includes its distribution arm, Bluefin.
Bluefin buys Carlisle-based broker
Bluefin has acquired Ross Lloyd in Carlisle, its third acquisition of 2010.