News
Hastings turns to Downton Abbey and the Inbetweeners for TV return
Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville and James Buckley of the Inbetweeners will be the voices behind Hastings Direct's return to TV advertising.
Insurers counter "poor compliance" claim after DVLA bans
Insurers have countered suggestions of "poor compliance" after it emerged that five household names had been temporarily suspended from receiving vehicle keeper information from the DVLA since 2010.
Top insurers banned from DVLA database
RSA, Groupama and LV are among the household names to have been temporarily suspended from receiving vehicle keeper information from the DVLA, Insurance Age can reveal.
L&G strikes five-year product deal with Newcastle Building Society
Legal & General (L&G) has agreed a five-year extension to its current deal with Newcastle Building Society for its general insurance products.
Willis secures Chartered broker status
Willis has been awarded Chartered insurance broker status for its UK business.
Bluefin CEO "bullish" about acquisitions despite 2012 blank
Bluefin Insurance CEO Stuart Reid has insisted he is "bullish" about the broker's 2013 acquisition prospects despite drawing a blank last year.
Broker Apprentice: The advertising winner revealed
“The one I’ve chosen actually had a strapline that we can use in advertising campaigns over a longer period.”
County Insurance to open Manchester office
County Insurance Consultants, part of the County Group, is poised to open a Manchester office.
Direct Line Group reports dip in GWP while COR improves
Direct Line Group (DLG) has reported a drop in gross written premium (GWP)for 2012, at £3.99bn down from £4.13bn in 2011.
Biba: IPT increase would be "counter-intuitive"
The British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) has warned the government ahead of the Budget that any increase in the standard rate of insurance premium tax (IPT) would be "counter-intuitive".
Gallagher Heath partners with Lorega on property claims
Gallagher Heath has signed up with Lorega to white-label its loss recovery insurance products and launch Gallagher Heath Assist.
Open GI buys PowerPlace
Open GI has confirmed the purchase of PowerPlace from parent company Towergate for an undisclosed sum.
Professionalism is crucial ingredient for enhanced benefits
Neil Clutterbuck, director of underwriting and technical at Allianz, has revealed that increased professionalism is part of a cocktail that could lead to enhanced products and benefits for brokers from the insurer.
Bluefin shrugs off Wentworth storm to post rising profit and EBITDA
Bluefin Insurance shrugged off the reported loss of business to broker Wentworth Alexander to record post-tax profit and EBITDA rises for 2012.
Brit reports improved profit and COR
Brit Insurance has reported an operating profit of £113.6m for 2012, up from £68.4m in 2011, in the first full-year results since it divested its UK business.
esure plans £50m stock exchange flotation
esure has announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange with an initial public offering (IPO).
LV MD: motor rates need to rise
LV managing director John O’Roarke has blamed falling motor rates for the only disappointment in its broker channel results for 2012.
QBE to cut 700 jobs
QBE is to cut up to 700 positions across Europe, Australia and the US over the next few years.
Mixed bag at LV as operating profits soar but underwriting profits plunge
LV has reported a £25m reduction in underwriting profit for 2012, at £5m down from £30m in 2011.
Profits up at QBE
QBE has reported an 8% rise in net profit after tax to US$761m [£501.8m] for 2012 along with gross written premiums (GWP) of $18.4bn, up a modest 1% on 2011.
Expertise in Action: Video: The importance of data validation
With data validation increasing in importance, Post sat down with Zurich’s director of personal lines, pricing and underwriting Darren McCauley to discuss this trend.
Broker Apprentice: Bonus edition on The Campaign
The contestants have been tasked with designing a two-page advert for a student newspaper aimed at encouraging 18 year olds to join the general insurance broking profession.
Allianz UK CEO admits broker retail profit and growth was "bridge too far"
Allianz UK CEO Andrew Torrance has admitted that the insurer took a hit on the top line of its retail broker segment in 2012.
Hiscox CEO attributes profit jump to 2012 catastrophe fall
Bronek Masojada, CEO of Hiscox, has described 2012 as a “very good year”, following the release of its annual results.