Insurer
Optio takes Soni from Axa as CEO
Specialty managing general agent Optio Group has swooped for Axa UK commercial director Deepak Soni as its new CEO.
Avid targets £100m GWP by end of 2025
Managing director of Avid Insurance Services, Stephen Gibson, is targeting £100m of gross written premium by the end of 2025, growing from around £75m to £80m this year.
FCA encourages monitoring review ahead of first Consumer Duty annual report deadline
The Financial Conduct Authority has found many firms need to make improvements in their monitoring to enable them to determine whether they are delivering good outcomes for retail customers, as required by the Consumer Duty.
Cannabis MGU hires Midson to build network with UK brokers
CannGen Insurance Europe has recruited Alan Midson as development director for the UK and Europe with a remit of building out the company’s network of brokers in all legalised countries.
Application and ghost broking motor fraud up 64% at Aviva
Aviva spotted fraud on more than 51,000 motor policy applications last year, up 64% on its 2022 detection figures, the insurer has revealed.
The stats: Q1 2024 - Commercial combined slows to near halt
The year has started with almost no average premium growth in commercial combined while fleet and property owners have powered ahead, according to the latest statistics from Acturis.
Sompo adds Axa XL broker boss Allan Murley with regional remit
Sompo has recruited Allan Murley as head of UK insurance distribution from Axa XL to join in the fourth quarter of the year.
RSA expects new business “clunkiness” to ease from July as it continues NIG integration
RSA expects any “clunkiness” in how it handles brokers seeking quotes from both itself and merger partner NIG for the same business to improve materially from next month.
Ex-Aviva CEO Winslow raids former employer again
Direct Line Group has named Maz Bown as group chief risk officer, subject to regulatory approval, joining from Aviva where she was chief risk officer, UK General Insurance and Health.
Meet the MGA: Kova Professions
Having worked in both the insurer and MGA sectors, as well as the FCA, Kate Albert has a well-rounded view of the market. The Kova Professions CEO and founder explains to Jonathan Swift why service has become a point of difference in setting apart her…
Brokers urged to warn businesses as fire brigade ends automatic alarm response
Axa Commercial has advised London businesses to review their fire risk assessments and staff training after London Fire Brigade announced it would no longer respond to daytime activations of automatic fire alarms in most non-residential buildings from…
People Moves: 17 – 21 June 2024
Follow for the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Are new regional insurer offices the silver bullet to improve broker service?
The insurer retrenchment from the regions might have stopped and indeed been reversed in some cases, but as Ida Axling discovers, new branches, whilst welcome, are not the answer to all the issues over broker service.
Broker moves Accredited-backed MGA capacity to Aviva with extended facility
Norwich-based insurtech broker Pikl has replaced its MGA capacity after signing a deal with Prestige Underwriting, backed by Aviva.
R&Q opts for provisional liquidation
Accredited owner R&Q Insurance Holdings has decided to file for provisional liquidation in Bermuda and sell the fronting business through that route.
Rokstone launches in sports personal accident with Amato hire
Managing general agent Rokstone has expanded with a global sports accident portfolio, hiring Graham Amato as underwriter for the launch.
Folgate rating upgraded after Hadron deal
AM Best has removed from under review with positive implications and upgraded the Financial Strength Rating of Folgate Insurance following its acquisition by US hybrid carrier Hadron.
C-Quence switches from NIG to Sompo on P&C
Managing general agent C-Quence has added Sompo as capacity provider for its property casualty and property owners propositions, Insurance Age can reveal.
AM Best keeps Accredited ratings unchanged during sale turmoil
AM Best has confirmed that the A- (Excellent) ratings of R&Q-owned Accredited remain in place but are still under review.
Experts call for vigilance in ever-changing cyber risks landscape
Panellists at the Financial Times Global Insurance Summit yesterday called for more education on and prevention of cyber risks.
Filing pinpoints Arag growth in 2023
Arag boosted the number of risks placed by 3.6% in 2023 to 3.09m, a filing at Companies House has revealed.
Allianz and Aviva take top slots in Brokerbility’s insurer partner satisfaction survey
Allianz has been voted in first place by Brokerbility members in its latest poll on service satisfaction from key insurer partners as Aviva topped the rankings in the underwriting category.
People Moves: 10 – 14 June 2024
Keep up to date on the latest personnel changes in insurance.
Aviva’s Blanc: UK insurance industry needs to start planning for a post-Flood Re world
Amanda Blanc, group CEO at Aviva, claimed the UK must be cautious about what happens in a post-Flood Re world come 2039.