Insight
Allianz UK boosts GWP in 2024 as operating profit up 52%
Allianz UK has reported a 5.5% rise in total business volume last year to £4.66bn with profit surging ahead.
People Moves: 24 – 28 February 2025
Stay in the loop with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Pen Underwriting extends cover for recruitment agencies
Pen Underwriting has expanded and enhanced its specialist insurance proposition for recruitment agencies, to support clients’ international growth strategies.
Aviva “ruthlessly focused” on being consistent for brokers, says CEO Storah
Aviva grew UK SME business by 12% in 2024 with a more or less 50/50 split between rate and policy count growth, its UK and Ireland general insurance CEO has told Insurance Age.
Robic succeeds Furby as EMEA president at Chubb
Ana Robic has been appointed regional president for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Chubb, succeeding David Furby, who has been named executive chairman of EMEA.
Insurance industry needs to improve communication on motor premium costs – Colm Holmes
At the Association of British Insurers Annual Conference today, Allianz UK CEO Colm Holmes claimed the insurance industry is doing a “poor job” of explaining the reasons for costs of premiums.
Ageas UK premiums up 21% in 2024 to €1.85bn
Ageas grew UK premiums by 21% last year to €1.85bn (£1.52bn), driven by expanding the customer base and premium rate in motor, its parent has confirmed.
Biba renews 20-year-old membership agreement
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has renewed its agreement with Premium Credit to provide a premium finance facility to its members.
Aviva scores double-digit UK profit and volume growth in 2024
Aviva has posted 16% UK gross written premium growth in 2024, as its combined operating ratio improved to 94.9%.
Marshberry: US consolidators bypassing UK for Euro deals as targets dry up
Acquisitive US brokers might favour deals in territories outside the UK to enter and grow in Europe as the number of targets here shrinks.
In Depth: Risk-first broking – unlocking better terms through risk insights
To win out in the future brokers need to evolve from being insurance policy facilitators to proactive risk managers. Alan Sumner, risk management director, general insurance broking at Ardonagh Advisory, explains.
The Yorkshire Broker looks to build on base as inquiries grow
Launched in 2023, The Yorkshire Broker has seen inquiries kicking up in the past six months, according to managing director Martin Weaver-Parker, after “a bit of a slow start”, as he targets doubling gross written premiums in 18 months.
AUB reports Momentum and Movo deal costs
Sydney-headquartered AUB Group has revealed the costs of snapping up 40% of appointed representatives network Momentum Broker Solutions and 80% of fellow AR offering Movo Group last year, and promised more deals to come.
US parametric specialist buys Floodflash
Insurtech Floodflash has agreed terms to be bought by US parametric insurance specialist NormanMax Insurance Holdings.
Polaris eyeing up £500m GWP milestone for imarket in 2025, confirms Banga
“I don’t want to tempt fate, but on current trajectory, we should be getting close [to £500m GWP] by the end of 2025,” Polaris managing director Vivek Banga told Insurance Age.
Two more S166s into insurance firms
The Financial Conduct Authority commissioned two skilled person reports into insurance businesses between October and December 2024, taking the running total for the financial year into double digits.
Ex-Aviva UK CEO named ABI president
The Association of British Insurers has appointed Andy Briggs, CEO of Phoenix Group, as president with immediate effect.
Another double-digit jump for Polaris’s imarket takes premiums to £449m in 2024
Insurance premiums placed through digital trading platform imarket rose 15% to £449m in 2024 as Polaris built on surges in recent years.
Insurer service improves but claims and consistency causes challenges – Gracechurch
Specialist insurance research consultancy Gracechurch has reported a nine-point uplift in the market average net promoter score of insurer service over the past six months.
Interview: RSA commercial managing director Sonya Bryson on being the “insurer on speed dial” for brokers
RSA commercial managing director Sonya Bryson told Insurance Age the insurer has established its regional footprint as she shared insight on traded SME and servicing risks better that fall between e-trade and mid-market, but admitted it is behind…
FSCS opens to claims after Scottish broker stopped from trading by FCA
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has opened for claims from customers of Arthur Temlett, who traded as Abacus Insurance Consultants and was forced to stop carrying out any regulated activities by the Financial Conduct Authority at the start of…
Ex-England manager Gareth Southgate among Biba conference speakers
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has confirmed former England men’s football team manager Gareth Southgate as one of its 2025 conference keynote speakers.
CII New Gen group targets building confidence in insurance profession
A report published by the Chartered Insurance Institute New Generation Programme 2023/24 London Market Group has looked into how the insurance profession can help to build public confidence.
Gallagher names ex-Giles boss Lyons specialty CEO as Turner departs
Gallagher has appointed Sarah Lyons, currently CEO of its Australia and Asia business, as CEO of the London-based specialty division, succeeding Jonathan Turner.
