News
ABI appoints Aegon UK boss as new director general
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has appointed Otto Thoresen as its new director general. Mr Thoresen takes up the role on April 4 and will be based in London.
RSA completes PL broker team with Mark Coffey
Former head of personal lines at Zurich Mark Coffey has joined rival RSA as trading director, Personal Lines Broker.
What the Papers Say returns
What the Papers Say is back and it's, well, not that different to before really. A quick, laidback roundup of the hottest news in insurance from both the trade press and the wider national press.
Liberty pushes into UK mid corporate market
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe (LMIE), is set to expand its presence in the mid to large UK SME sector.
Admiral enters ECJ debate
Henry Engelhardt, chief executive officer at Admiral, has predicted an increase in rates for younger women following the ruling by the European Court of Justice describing a lowering of rates for men as insurance hara-kiri.
Chartis launches commercial app for brokers
Chartis has launched a web app for two of its SME products to allow brokers to obtain speculative or last minute quotes on the move.
Westinsure claims membership boost despite series of defections
Westinsure has announced the signing of six new members despite rival networks claiming that there have been a series of defections from the alliance.
Bridle buys London broker
Bridle Insurance has made its first acquisition of 2011, London insurance broker Harrington Adams.
Insurance Age blog: Has equality gone mad?
To say that the European Court of Justice's decision to no longer allow insurance companies to use gender in the calculations of premiums has been met with criticism would certainly be the understatement of the week.
CCV buys in South Wales
Cullum Capital Ventures (CCV) has acquired Hanbury Insurance, a personal and commercial lines broker in South Wales specialising in taxi insurance.
Broker Network and Countrywide make two hires after record growth
Broker Network and Countrywide have claimed the 19 members signing up in 2011 so far was the result of “extraordinary” levels of new membership enquiries totalling an additional £40m of annualised gross written premium.
Towergate limbers up for acquisition run
Towergate Partnership has announced the appointment of Stephen Hinbest as head of acquisitions as it looks to strengthen its capability in this field.
Heath Lambert appoints in Scottish business drive
Heath Lambert has appointed Karen McKay and Ian Simpson as sales executives to strengthen the business development team at its Edinburgh office.
Aviva's UK GI business sees boost in premium and profit
After four quarters of consecutive growth, UK GI net written premiums increased 5% to £4bn (2009: £3.86bn) and operating profit for UK GI and health also rose 8% to £579m (2009: £535m).
The all new Insurance Age hits the broking market
Insurance Age relaunches with a fresh new look featuring a round table with some of the biggest names in the industry as they look to reshape the market for the future
FSCS claws back some cash from failed PPI firm
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared Welcome Financial Services (WFS) in default.
Markerstudy goes for funeral directors
Markerstudy Group has acquired the business of Kent - based Beal & Co.
Industry moves to reassure brokers over ECJ ruling
The broker-facing insurance community has moved to allay concerns brokers might have following the announcement by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that after 21 December 2012 gender cannot be used as a factor in calculating insurance premiums.
Insurance industry dismayed by ECJ ruling
The insurance industry has reacted with disappointment to the ruling by the European Court of Justice that as of December 2012 discriminating by gender will be unlawful for calculating insurance premiums.
Ecclesiastical appoints new regional director for the North
Ecclesiastical Insurance has appointed Julie Molloy as the new regional director for its northern regional centre with immediate effect.
JLT reports £20m leap in profits
JLT has reported a healthy 2010 with profits after tax coming in at £90.7m, an increase of nearly £20m on last year.
Young women drivers to pay more for insurance following EU ruling
The European Court of Justice ruling will bring to an end the use of gender in insurance pricing.
Arc claims first in legal expenses claims technology
Arc Legal Assistance has launched what it claims is the first UK iPhone claims App for legal expenses policies.
Allianz sees profits slide but maintains healthy underwriting result
Allianz has reported a £45m drop in operating profit to £158.5m (£203.7m: 2009) and a 3% deterioration in combined ratio despite a near £76m uplift in gross written premiums (GWP) for 2010.