News
Glasgow broker becomes front-of-shirt sponsor for Celtic FC Women
Octo Insurance Brokers has become the official front-of-shirt sponsor for Celtic FC Women for the 2026/27 season, the biggest jersey sponsorship for the team to date.
Aviva boosts UK operating profit and trims COR in H1
Aviva has posted a more than 40% increase in UK operating profit for the first half of 2026, coming in at £603m, pointing to “maintaining disciplined trading” across its portfolio “despite areas of market softening”.
People Moves: 10 – 14 August 2026
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Biba renews member Renovation Plan scheme
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has renewed its member scheme Renovation Plan, part of Howden, for properties undergoing renovation work.
Heatwave and drought – Swiss Re boss urges adaptation
“Insurance helps households and businesses recover, while pricing risk can inform decisions about where to invest. But it cannot make up for avoidable damage. This can only be achieved through reducing the risk itself through careful adaptation.”
Biba heads to new HQ
The British Insurance Broker’s Association is moving to new offices staying within the Square Mile of the City of London, Insurance Age can reveal.
Pen doubles capacity in renewed property owners’ deal
Pen Underwriting has increased its property owner risks capacity, enabling the managing general agent to write £120m in premium over the next three years.
QuestGates makes second purchase in two months
QuestGates has bought Richard Hartley Partnership, a specialist claims provider focused on complex losses in the power and construction sectors, just weeks after snapping up Manchester-based Howell Wild.
Bspoke adds Cadle and Biggs in broker facing roles
Bspoke Group has appointed Jim Cadle as head of distribution and Ryan Biggs as business development manager, to support growth across its commercial and delegated authority divisions.
Amiga broadens financial lines offering
Amiga Specialty has launched a pension trustee liability run-off and overlooked beneficiary insurance offering, further expanding its specialist financial lines appetite.
Lockton raids Howden for head as it launches Manchester real estate offering
Lockton has launched a regional real estate offering in Manchester led by former Howden head of wholesale business development Bob Birtwell.
CII confirms 53 new chartered broker individuals in first half of 2026
The Chartered Insurance Institute awarded chartered status to 53 brokers in the first half of the year, among 195 insurance professionals that achieved the status.
Seventeen grows with Titan
Seventeen Group has bought Putney-based commercial broker Titan Insurance Services.
Insurtech in five-strong FCA innovation and scale-up cohort
Insurtech Urban Jungle has joined the Financial Conduct Authority’s scale-up unit, with the watchdog promising tailored support to help it innovate, navigate regulation and grow sustainably.
James Hallam steps in as Anthony Jones appoints liquidator
Insurance broker Anthony Jones has appointed joint liquidators, with customers being offered an option to transfer to James Hallam.
Aviva strengthens financial institutions capability across regional network
Aviva has expanded its financial institutions underwriting capability with four FI underwriters located in the Midlands and South, North of England and Scotland.
Brown & Brown boss Barrett Brown resigns and to exit in 2027
P. Barrett Brown, executive vice-president and former president of the retail segment, has resigned from Brown & Brown and will leave at the end of July 2027, the US-headquartered broker has confirmed.
Allianz joins Sky Protect home insurance panel ‘completing an expert line-up’
Allianz UK has joined the panel for broker Sky Protect’s home insurance offering, sitting alongside Axa and Ageas.
QBE FOI reveals solar panel fires increasing at more than double the rate of installations
The rate of solar panel fires is rising faster than the pace of installations, up 133% in recent years compared to a 52% increase in new kit, according to research by QBE.
All-female MGA cyber team launches supply chain extension
Rokstone’s new Athena Cyber division has launched a customer and supplier supply chain disruption extension.
Chubb boss hails Nicklin “natural choice” for lead role
Chubb has appointed Ed Nicklin as head of the major accounts division for UK and Ireland, as Nick Lee retires.
French new entrant buys portfolio of UK firms
French broking and mortgage group Odealim has bought a Leicester-based portfolio of firms including Rhino Trade Insurance, Rhino Home Protect, Rhino Protect, Vantage Fee Protect, Quest and ICPA.
People Moves: 3 – 7 August 2026
Follow the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Allianz UK grows profit by 18% with stable business volumes
Allianz UK increased operating profit by 18.2% in the first half of 2026 to £265m as the insurer cited that broker relationships “remain key”.