News
Aviva reveals 15 new hires in regional specialty push
Aviva has hired 15 people in its regional specialty segment as it commits to increasing market visibility through deeper, face-to-face engagement with brokers across the regions.
Hiscox maintains UK expansion pace in Q1
Hiscox UK grew written premiums by 8.9% to £181.2m in the first quarter compared to the same period the year before, underpinned by “strong double-digit” growth in its art and private client arm.
SSP gears up for purchasing drive after restructure
SSP’s Martyn Mathews has been tasked with spending money on M&A, as the software provider has restructured with Mathews leading its UK and Ireland business.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Drive Further’s Jon Daniels
Jon Daniels, managing director of Drive Further, recommends that a bit of preparation goes a long way before the conference and looks forward to the quality conversations when things get calmer on Thursday morning.
Axa makes triple May moves
Axa Insurance UK’s partnership with Commercial Express has gone live, as the insurer also enhanced its risk management proposition for fleets and rolled out a 24/7 commercial motor claims reporting service.
Allianz passes cyber to Coalition
Allianz has signed a global deal to move its commercial cyber insurance business to Coalition.
Covéa promotes Long to COO
Covéa Insurance has promoted Stephen Long to chief operating officer in the latest of a series of personnel changes at the insurer.
Home insurance premiums tick down in Q1 – ABI
Household property premiums fell in the first quarter of the year, the fourth drop in a row according to the Association of British Insurers.
Biba recruits ‘great match’ Maxwell as Northern regional manager
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has appointed Lesley Maxwell as regional manager for the North.
UGL unveils Zurich-backed landlords product
Midas, part of Uris Group, has launched a residential landlords proposition Midas Let Property.
FCA launches probe of claims management companies
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a market review over worries that consumers are being failed by some claims management companies and law firms.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Aviva’s Michael Yabantu
Michael Yabantu, managing director of mid-market at Aviva, is keen to talk to brokers to work together to address the protection gap for customers and hints that the insurer’s Wednesday night event might have an element of Madness to it.
Flaxmans opens claims insight library for brokers, legal advisors and insurance practitioners
Flaxman Partners has launched The Flaxmans Library, offering insight into why claims fail and where misunderstandings arise in practice.
Aventum makes first MGA buy as it pushes into Continental Europe
Aventum has bought Rotterdam-headquartered specialist marine and logistics managing general agent Post & Co in its first ever MGA acquisition.
Dual expands social care proposition
Dual UK has enhanced its social care proposition providing cover for the operational and regulatory requirements of children’s homes and special education needs schools.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Axa’s Matt Field
Matt Field, partnerships director at Axa Insurance UK – retail, invites people to visit its van on the cobbled area next to the conference centre and warns against burn out by over-filling your diary with appointments.
Clear pushes on with MGA rebrands
Clear has rebranded Accelerate Underwriting as Shape Digital and Thomond Underwriting as Shape Underwriting Ireland in further changes to its managing general agents division.
Broker Direct teams up with Chinese insurer for property product suite launch
Broker Direct has partnered with China Taiping to provide property insurance products designed with brokers in mind.
CII adds two executive directors to leadership team
The Chartered Insurance Institute Group has appointed Ben Turner as executive director of member engagement and Will Holt as executive director of learning.
MoneySuperMarket grows ChatGPT app with home and pet insurance
Price comparison service MoneySuperMarket has added home and pet insurance products directly in its ChatGPT app.
Aviva makes third acquisition in three years buying long standing partner
Aviva has acquired DisasterCare Group in a move that it believes will strengthen its disaster recovery and restoration capability, as well as support a quicker end-to-end property claims process for customers, brokers and partners.
People Moves: 27 April – 1 May 2026
Stay in the loop with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QuestGates’ Dave Clare
Dave Clare, operations director - building consultancy division of QuestGates, highlights the importance of getting the fundamentals right and raises the possibility of doing a turn singing My Way dressed as a calculator.
Open GI looks to Barnard from Aviva to succeed Badley as CEO
Open GI has appointed James Barnard from Aviva to succeed Simon Badley as group CEO, with the change scheduled “over the course” of the second half of the year.