Insight
Pen launches into mid-market PI
Pen Underwriting has launched into the UK mid-market professional indemnity space, Insurance Age can reveal.
Soft market a ‘critical opportunity’ for brokers to tackle underinsurance
Brokers are increasingly seeing their role as pivotal in fixing underinsurance, with 87% agreeing they should proactively address it, up from 80% last year, according to Aviva.
Allianz transfers 12 strong team after agreeing MGA deal
Allianz Commercial has entered into a strategic agreement with MGA Reel Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paragon Insurance Holdings, to create a new partnership in the global entertainment insurance market.
Axa partners with regional broker focused MGA
Axa UK Commercial has partnered with Unicorn, a managing general agent providing underwriting services to SMEs.
BrokerCentral integrates with Applied for PL access
BrokerCentral has selected Applied Rating Hub to provide access to a panel of insurer and MGA personal lines schemes for full-cycle EDI trading.
PremFina grows broker network by a third
PremFina has reported it grew its broker network by a third last year citing three “major” partnerships in the final quarter alone as it reached £1.1bn in contracted volumes.
MBP strikes first deal of 2026 with RAW investment
Minority Broker Partnerships has acquired a minority stake in RAW Insurance Brokers, a Carlisle-based commercial insurance brokerage specialising in construction, agricultural and SME business insurance.
Aviva to keep Direct Line for Business
Aviva, which partially exited direct SME commercial business in 2024, is keeping Direct Line for Business and does not view it as a challenger to brokers, Jason Storah, CEO for UK and Ireland general insurance told Insurance Age.
News analysis: Will NCDs for fleets catch on, and what does the future hold for the CV sector?
Last year, Zurich Insurance announced it was enhancing its SME e-trade fleet offering by accepting no claims discount (NCD) claims history in response to broker demand. Saxon East examines the ramifications of this move – and explores other dynamics…
Open GI parent trims losses in year of Ares deal
Open GI’s parent company, OM Bidco, cut operating and post-tax losses in the year Ares Management bought the business, a filing at Companies House has revealed.
H&H promotes Kally Shane to lead insurance business
Kally Shane has been promoted to head of H&H Insurance Brokers having progressed through the business in increasingly senior roles after joining as a trainee 16 years ago.
Coalition claws back £16.4m of policyholders’ stolen funds in 2025
Cyber insurer Coalition recovered £16.4m in stolen funds for policyholders around the world last year, with an average recovery of £152,053.
John Lewis Money becomes regulated insurance broker
John Lewis Money has become a regulated insurance broker and will go live with a panel including Axa, Prestige Underwriting and Covéa for home insurance in April with car to follow in the summer.
ERS launches ultra-HNW motor offering
ERS has launched Private Client Ultimate, a proposition developed for high-net worth individuals with complex motor risks to provide specialist cover for single vehicles valued at £350,000 and vehicle collections valued at £500,000.
People Moves: 2 – 6 March 2026
Follow the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Chris Knight succeeds Brewis as FCA insurance director
The Financial Conduct Authority has recruited Chris Knight to take on the director of insurance role within its supervision, policy and competition division starting July 2026.
Storah promises brokers more to come as Aviva reaches sub 94% ‘North Star’ COR
Aviva grew gross written premium and policy numbers in a “challenging” SME market, Jason Storah, CEO for UK and Ireland general insurance at Aviva, confirmed to Insurance Age, as he promised further broker focus after its 2025 results.
MGA Lumara adds Draper to lead Midlands offering
Managing general agent Lumara Insurance has appointed Matt Draper as lead underwriter for the Midlands, responsible for the managing general agent’s broker panel in the region.
Partners& buys West Midlands-based Movo AR
Partners& has purchased Dudley-based Holmes Insurance Brokers, a Movo Partnerships appointed representative.
Aviva posts UK commercial growth as Direct Line boosts GWP to over £9bn
Aviva grew UK commercial premiums by 7% to £3.85bn last year as it improved the combined operating ratio in the line to 93.9% from 95.4%.
Admiral breaks £1bn barrier for UK motor profit in 2025
Admiral’s UK insurance business has reported a 11% jump in profit to £1.09bn in 2025 (2024: £977bn) on a turnover of £5bn (2024: £5.1bn) with motor contributing £1.02bn (2024: £955m) and household, travel and pet £62m (2024: £22m).
Polaris MD Banga on growth with MGAs, AI and initiatives to expand digital trading
“There had been this perception that imarket is only for insurers. It’s great to see four MGAs now actively trading on it,” Polaris managing director Vivek Banga has told Insurance Age.
Adler Fairways strikes deal post-Intact investment in parent UKGI
Adler Fairways has expanded buying County Antrim-based McCarroll McConnell & Co to “create a strategic presence” in Northern Ireland.
Stephanie Cryer promoted to QBE International CUO
QBE has promoted Stephanie Cryer to chief underwriting officer for its international division, effective 1 April 2026.