Aviva
Aviva is one of the largest and most recognised UK insurance brands, with more than 320 years of heritage. As a composite insurer, we can provide customers with a wide range of insurance and savings products - from commercial and personal lines to health insurance and pensions, investments and asset management. Using technology and our expertise we try to prevent bad things from happening to our customers in the first place, helping our 33 million customers defy uncertainty and look to the future with confidence. We are the only large scale, multi-line insurer in the UK, our home market. We also have a strong presence in selected markets in Europe, North America and South-East Asia. We focus on markets where we can achieve scale, profitability and competitive advantage.
PB Week: Clive Galbraith's guest blog
Clive Galbraith, chairman of Hastings-based broker Green Campbell Fisk, is PB's latest guest blogger
Sir Jackie Stewart denies involvement in Aviva’s supercar payout
An Aberdeen newspaper had reported that the former professional driver was at the wheel of the £500,000 Pagani Zonda S when it crashed into a telegraph pole.
Aviva pays out record £300,000 repair claim
Aviva has confirmed that following a crash in September last year, it has paid £300,000 to repair a Pagani Zonda S.
Aviva launches media product
Aviva has launched a specialist media insurance product covering a range of businesses including on and offline publishers, marketing and advertising companies, photographers, broadcasters and local media.
Secure Underwriting expands online offering
Secure Underwriting has joined forces with Aviva to launch a new online quote and buy product for engineering and computer and inspection cover.
Aviva launches claims guides
Aviva has launched a series of online guides aimed at providing brokers with more details about the claims process which they can use to help customers understand the process.
Aviva UK's general insurance profits and GWP fell in 2009
Aviva UK's general insurance operating result fell to £520m (2008: £642m) in 2009. Its combined operating ratio remained static at 99%
Double trouble in property
Loss adjuster finds market contradictions
No systemic risk from insurance core activities reports The Geneva Association
International insurance think tank, The Geneva Association, has published its report, Systemic Risk in Insurance.
Aviva joins forces with SSP
Aviva has teamed up with global IT company SSP to give 600 extra brokers access to personal lines products.
Rise in complaints to Financial Ombudsman Service
Data released by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has shown an 18% increase in new complaints to 82,136 for the second half of 2009 compared with the first six months of the year.
Over two-thirds start insurance search on comparison websites
New research from Global Reviews, the customer experience benchmarking company, has found that over two thirds (70%) of people now start their searches for insurance on a comparison website.
One in five admit to insurance 'fronting'
New research from the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) and Aviva reveals that 70% of UK drivers do not understand what 'fronting' means, but that one in five of those that do understand the term admit to it.
Aviva warns of vacant property rise
A new study by the Local Data Company shows that retail property vacancy rates across Britain rose 2% in the past six months of last year to 12%, with some towns seeing as much as 24% of its shops lying empty.
Towergate raids HSBC for new managing director
Caravan and park homes broker Towergate Bakers has announced the appointment of Simon Townsend as its managing director.
Willis names interim CFO
Willis Group Holdings has announced today that Stephen Wood, the company's global group financial controller, has been named interim chief financial officer.
Soundbytes
Fast Trade is Aviva's online quote-and-buy facility for small business packages. It provides brokers with simpler navigation and improved quote facilities, cover and instant documentation. The site also provides product information and an online claims…
Editor's comment
It is refreshing when the chief executive of one of the country's largest broking firms cuts to the chase. Talking to me about rate increases, the broker in question let out a heavy sigh and declared that the whole subject was rather tiresome, albeit…
Zurich forges ahead with bold hikes in personal motor rates
Zurich's decision to implement blanket rate increases on its private motor book has exposed the diversity in strategy among the leading composite insurers in this arena
Santander urges mortgage brokers to tap into insurance
Bank Santander, through its brand Abbey for Intermediaries, has encouraged mortgage brokers to "exploit" the general insurance market, cutting premium levels in the home insurance sector in order to secure market share
Consumer bill heralds industry boost
A proposed change in legislation to protect consumers could be good news for the public, insurers and brokers, writes Emmanuel Kenning
Markel boosts retail division
John Parkinson joins from Hastings while Rupert Joce joins from Ecclesiastical
Sterling targets commercial growth
Insurer boosts commercial news business and development underwriting teams with two new hires
What the papers say
In this edition, Insurance Age editor Martin Friel is joined by head of communications at Towergate, Marc DonFrancesco and Andrew Tjaardstra, editor of Professional Broking to pick over the trade press.