Insight
Optio builds real estate capacity to £100m
Specialty managing general agent Optio Group has struck a capacity deal for its real estate product, increasing its total sum insured binding authority from £60m to £100m.
Broker growth optimism rises to new heights
Brokers are increasingly optimistic about growth, with regional players leading the way according to a survey by Aviva.
Biba 2026 Countdown: CyberCube’s Nate Brink
Nate Brink, head of broker sales and account management at CyberCube, is flying in from Michigan to attend his first ever Biba Conference and is looking forward to savouring a local curry and gaining valuable insights in the coffee queues.
Covéa bolsters personal lines leadership with McCann and Midgley in new roles
Covéa Insurance has created two new roles, adding Jamie McCann as head of personal lines and promoting Jade Midgley to head of trading for personal lines.
Allianz revamps commercial management as Nick Hobbs exits after 25 years
Nick Hobbs is to leave Allianz UK after 25 years with the insurer, stepping down from his roles as chief distribution officer and chairman of Allianz Engineering Inspection Services.
Analysis: Are employee benefits the new diversification frontier for GI brokers?
This year, Top 100 UK brokers Jensten, Lloyd & Whyte and Clear have all joined amii, a trade body representing intermediaries advising on health insurance, protection and wellbeing services, while others have acquired in this space. Sam Barrett looks at…
Insurance complaints up 10% but stay below recent highs
Complaints about insurance and protection rose 10.1% in the second half of last year, the only product group to post an increase.
Brown & Brown partners with Progeny Underwriting on agriculture products
Brown & Brown has entered a three-year partnership with Progeny Underwriting to provide its brokers access to the agricultural specialist managing general agent’s proposition.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Gambit and Mode Insurance’s Ajay Mistry
Gambit Insurance Solutions and Mode Insurance founder and director, Ajay Mistry, recommends being selective and not trying to be everywhere on Wednesday night and sending a quick message/thank you by way of a follow up after the event.
Marsh partners with F1
Global broking giant Marsh has teamed up with Formula 1 as the series’ first official insurance broker partner and official risk partner.
JMG eyes £1bn GWP as it hits £500m
JMG Group has achieved £500m gross written premium during the financial year, setting it sights on hitting £1bn GWP within five years.
European businesses fall behind in cyber incident recovery confidence – Beazley
Europe fell behind the rest of the world when it came to cyber incident recovery confidence with its rate of 75% a touch lower than the 78% global average, Beazley has reported.
Wholesaler Ceta adds renewal hub to portal
Ceta has launched a renewal hub for property business on its Infinity Portal as it labelled renewals “the single biggest revenue battleground” for any intermediary in a softening market.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QBE’s Janine Bowler
Janine Bowler, Manchester interim head of trading at QBE, recommends Salut wine bar for an external catch up and is looking forward to the buzz when the event opens on Wednesday 13 May.
Qlaims adds household loss recovery insurance on Acturis
Managing general agent Qlaims has launched household loss recovery insurance on Acturis, in a move it claimed gives brokers easy access to its product.
HNW broker sets out growth plan as MD reaches 25-year anniversary
Family-led broker Lumley Insurance has unveiled a growth plan to enter a new phase of development as it marks 25 years of managing director John Lumley at the helm.
Adrian Flux renews deal with partner of 22 years
Top 100 UK broker Adrian Flux has renewed with its premium finance provider of 22 years.
Jensten recruits Swindle from Ardonagh-owned Geo
Jensten has swooped for Geo Underwriting CEO Jaime Swindle as its new CEO of product and distribution.
Canopius launches cyber war product to cover against state-sponsored attacks
Canopius Group has launched a cyber war product, offering businesses dedicated protection against the escalating threat of cyber war.
Five years of growth on the bounce for Miller
Miller grew revenue by 15% to £314m last year marking its fifth consecutive annual rise.
PE backed platform looks to regional broker M&A after authorisation
Ascend Insurance Holdings has received FCA authorisation and entered the UK market to provide an “alternative solution” to regional insurance brokers.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Crawford & Company’s Paul Lofkin
Paul Lofkin, UK and Ireland president at Crawford & Company, hails the all round skills of the loss adjusting sector and promotes the benefits of digital enablement to free up time to invest in client relationships.
Allianz U-turns on dropping LV brand with deal extension
Allianz has reversed its plans to shift away from the LV brand and has struck a new multi-year deal to continue using it for home, car and pet insurance.
Beazley shareholders give near unanimous approval paving way for Zurich takeover
Beazley shareholders have given the green light for the £8.1bn Zurich deal, with 99.9% of votes cast in favour clearing the way for the transaction to go ahead.