News
New CEO at Brightside’s insurance broking division
Brightside has appointed Alan Sanderson in the new role of chief executive officer for its insurance broking division.
ABI casts doubt on FOS' need to increase reserves
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has responded to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) by questioning the need for an increase in reserves and calling for a push on transparency.
Two promotions at Towergate
Towergate has promoted Keith Harrison and Keith Jackson to the positions of chief operating officer, commercial underwriting and commercial director of commercial underwriting respectively.
Heath Lambert reportedly in takeover talks
Arthur J Gallagher International is in takeover talks with London market broker Heath Lambert, say sources close to the company.
Zurich appoints director of personal lines broker business
Zurich has appointed Gareth Howell as the director of UK personal lines broker business, reporting to Karl Bedlow, managing director of UK personal lines.
NIG's rates guarantee is suicidal according to Groupama CEO
Groupama Insurances CEO, François-Xavier Boisseau, has fired a broadside at NIG and its controversial ‘guarantee to beat’ rate offer to brokers, describing the move as suicidal.
Plum attributes growth to broker demand for non-standard cover
Plum Underwriting has reported a 54% increase in sales for the year ending June 2010 and revealed that it has more than doubled its agency base.
Lord Sheikh returns to broker market
Conservative peer Lord Sheikh has launched insurance broker and underwriting agent Macmillan Sheikh.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car denies it wants brokers out of claims process
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has called for an amendment to the Road Traffic Act to ensure reporting of accidents to insurers, even in cases where the at-fault driver has admitted liability, is made mandatory.
Insurance Age blog: What's in a name?
Just when you had learnt what the CPMA stood for, the Government goes and changes the name of the new regulatory body tasked with keeping naughty brokers in check.
New property aggregator promises to help brokers retain clients
Former KGM group development manager, Doug Phelan, has returned to the market with a new ‘broker friendly’ aggregator proposition.
Ageas adds to commercial broker account team
Ageas Insurance has appointed three new commercial broker account executives to cover the North East, East and West Midlands, and South West regions.
Willis Networks gains six new recruits
Six new members have joined Willis Networks, its alliance with local, independent insurance brokers in the UK.
Chartis appoints new head of UK operations
Chartis Insurance UK has announced the appointment of Kate Roy as the head of UK operations based in London.
Biba reacts to Government consultation on new regulatory structure
The Government has opened its consultation on the future of financial regulation.
Planned pre-emptive regulatory powers "a nonsense" - RPC
City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has warned the Government’s plan to hand the new financial services regulator the power to publicise an investigation before it is completed is contrary to principles of natural justice and makes a nonsense…
New broker regulator gets backing from FSCS
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has put its weight behind the decision to make the body accountable to both the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA).
Towergate wins NICEIC contract
Towergate has been appointed to provide insurance services to NICEIC, the UK electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary accreditation and regulatory body.
The professionalism push: Video interview with Sandy Scott, CII
Sandy Scott, chief executive of the Chartered Insurance Institute talks to Jonathan Swift about the challenges and opportunities facing the general insurance industry in its quest to embrace professionalism.
Groupama reports return to form with profit leap
Groupama Insurances has reported a dramatic leap in profitability although the insurer’s broking arm experienced a slight dip in revenues.
Powerplace launches business support team
Powerplace has launched a dedicated business support team to provide brokers with a quick source of help and advice.
New broker regulator name changed to FCA
Financial Secretary Mark Hoban MP has announced the new regulator tasked with overseeing insurance intermediaries, previously known as the Consumer Protection and Market Authority (CPMA), will now be called the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Axa and Bluefin both report drop in revenue
Axa’s full year earnings for 2010 have plunged by £100m to £131m (2009: £235m) with Bluefin Insurance services also reporting a 3% drop in revenue to £112m.
Biba demands action from regulator on FSCS
Eric Galbraith, chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba), has called on the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to accelerate its fundamental review of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).