Commercial
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.
End of Year Review 2025: Allianz UK’s Nick Hobbs
Nick Hobbs, chief distribution officer at Allianz UK, prays for a more balanced approach to regulation that enables and encourages great conduct and customer outcomes; congratulates Ken Norgrove for the Intact rebrand; and looks to a feathered friend for…
End of Year Review 2025: Markel UK’s Joanne Skyes
Joanne Sykes, divisional director - broker at Markel UK, predicts an escalation in demand for cyber risk and ransomware cover, whilst singing the praises of Biba CEO Trudgill and ‘Yellow’ with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Travel insurance broker goes into liquidation
Michael Pettifer Insurance Brokers, trading as MPI Brokers, went into creditors’ voluntary liquidation on 21 November, the Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed.
End of Year Review 2025: Crawford & Co’s Glenn Thornton
Glenn Thornton, head of major and complex loss at Crawford & Company, says farewell to two insurance icons in ‘Royal’ and ‘Sun Alliance’; hails the youngest deputy president CILA has ever had in Marsh’s Melissa Cunningham; and predicts AI driven dynamic…
End of Year Review 2025: Gallagher’s Gary Fletcher
Gary Fletcher, managing director of commercial at Gallagher UK Retail, is proud of the broker’s data led client tools and digital strategy; and favours a duet with Coldplay’s Chris Martin over his employer’s namesake Liam from Oasis.
Amiga targets SME and mid-market with new Lloyd’s capacity for management liability
Amiga Specialty has secured new Lloyd’s capacity to support its management liability proposition for SME and mid-market businesses across the UK, Europe and select rest of-world territories.
MBP invests in cyber broker taking deal count to four in recent months
Peter Cullum-backed Minority Broker Partnerships has invested in London-based specialist cyber and technology insurance broker and digital platform, Cyber Cover.
Interview: Tigi Singhateh and Adrian Best, Invicta Insurance Services
Since coming on board in 2022, Invicta Insurance Services’ leaders have doubled the size of the business, despite having to deal with a fraudster. With the now ex-employee jailed and the case firmly behind them, they are targeting doubling again.
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.
Mindful placement in a soft market – why discipline still matters
Soft markets demand sharper thinking to avoid a false sense of security and complacency, argues John Dunn, managing director of distribution and market management at The Clear Group and Brokerbility.
£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.
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?’…
AIG adds Clifford after Neal U-turn
American International Group has appointed Adam Clifford as CEO of international commercial insurance as he rejoins the insurer in the latest leadership development since the recruitment of John Neal was called off.
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.
Aviva partners with Percayso on data enrichment
Aviva has partnered with Percayso Inform to enhance its data enrichment capabilities, in a multi-year deal.
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…
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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.
The stats: Commercial rates reduce significantly in Q3 2025
The value of a typical commercial book of business has fallen for the first time since 2018, driven by negative premium movements in commercial combined, property owners and combined liability, reports Ida Axling.
New roles for Tonge and Grazier as Bspoke reshapes management structure
Bspoke Group has named Nick Grazier as group sales and marketing director and Wayne Tonge as group commercial managing director.
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’.