Insurer
People Moves: 26 - 30 August 2024
Keep up to date on the latest personnel changes in insurance.
Axa reveals 106.3% UK COR for 2023
Axa Insurance UK has posted an improved 106.3% combined operating ratio for 2023, trimming it from 109.8% the year before.
Ageas Retail revenue ticks up as profit rebounds
Ageas’ wholly owned broking subsidiary Ageas Retail grew post-tax profit by 20% in 2023 to £6.5m, switching back to growth after declining in 2022.
Loss adjusters in spotlight as FOS buildings insurance complaints hit 10-year high
The number of buildings insurance complaints filed to the Financial Ombudsman Service hit a record quarterly high of 2001 between April and June.
Motor FOS complaints stable in Q1 as ombudsman’s workload surges
Car and motorcycle insurance complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service rose fractionally to 3,940 in the first quarter of the financial year as the overall workload soared by 70%.
Market Movement Index: Smaller insurers gain market share from re-broking
New research from Broker Insights shows brokers are placing more business with smaller players, resulting in a changing landscape where competition can thrive. Rachel Gordon reports.
Ageas delivers 49% growth in UK premiums
Ageas boosted UK gross written premiums by 49% in the first half of 2024 to €992m (£835m) citing customer growth and rate increases primarily in motor with “solid underwriting profitability”.
Home quote prices turn downwards – Consumer Intelligence
The average quoted premiums for buildings and contents insurance fell by 1.1% in the three months to the end of July, according to research by Consumer Intelligence.
Biba and Flood Re team up on BBB regional push
Flood Re has teamed up with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association as part of its plans to develop wider understanding across the broking community about the mechanics and benefits of the Build Back Better scheme.
Blog: Are conflicting messages on risk controls and rates eroding trust in cyber expertise?
Is a failure to heed the cyber insurance lessons of the past undermining efforts to shore up its sustainable future? Ian Summerfield, head of cyber at Pen Underwriting, discusses.
Stait takes interim charge of Allianz mid-market business after Carey departure
Allianz has moved to replace Ecclesiastical-bound Dave Carey with interim managing director for mid-market Graham Stait, pictured, effective from today and subject to regulatory approval.
Carey quits Allianz to become Ecclesiastical intermediary MD
Ecclesiastical Insurance has appointed Dave Carey as the new managing director of its intermediary business, to join in February 2025.
How can the insurance industry bust ghost brokers for good?
With ghost broking a growing and persistent threat to the insurance industry, Rosie Simms asks whether technology is making the problem more prevalent – or easier for insurers to spot.
Tributes paid to “excellent chair” and “inspiration to many” Jonathan Bloomer
Hiscox and DWF have paid tribute to insurance and financial services veteran Jonathan Bloomer following his passing.
Hiscox chair Bloomer confirmed dead as body recovered after yacht sinking
Hiscox chairman Jonathan Bloomer’s body has been confirmed among the five recovered yesterday following the sinking of the Bayesian yacht on Monday.
Broker HNW clients less concerned about underinsurance than a year ago
More than a third (35%) of wealthy individuals admit they can’t remember the last time they had their art and collections valued, offering brokers a great opportunity to talk to their high net worth customers.
FCA: brokers struggling to marry remuneration with evidence of fair value assessment
Brokers are still struggling to provide adequate evidence they are appropriately assessing whether their remuneration is consistent with the fair value of the product they are selling.
Markel doubles floor space with Leeds office move
Markel has doubled the size of its Leeds branch by moving to the new City Square House, 34 years after its first office opened in the city.
Allianz PL MD George hails LV Broker rebrand a success
Intermediaries are asking Allianz for more personal lines capacity and have welcomed the rebrand from LV, according to Nicola George, the new managing director of the insurer's broker PL arm.
Hiscox chair Bloomer named among missing people after Sicily yacht sinking
Hiscox chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy have been named among the six people still missing following the sinking of the Bayesian yacht off Sicily yesterday.
Arch expands presence in Glasgow with new office
Arch Insurance’s UK regional division has announced it has opened a new office in Glasgow as part of its growth strategy for the region.
Aviva UK&I GI boss Storah “bullish” commercial rates to hold steady throughout 2024
Aviva UK and Ireland general insurance CEO Jason Storah is confident that most of the wider commercial sector will continue to hold its nerve over rate and not chase short-term market gains – for now, at least.
30% premium growth sees Aviva UK&I PL arm overtake commercial at HY 2024
Aviva has reported that its UK & Ireland premiums increased 18% to £3,809m in the first six months of 2024 (HY23: £3,219m) with strong growth across all business lines, especially personal.
Hiscox rolls out Google-backed AI model to all brokers
Hiscox has today announced that it is rolling out its AI-enhanced lead underwriting model to all of its London market brokers after a successful proof of concept.