People
Covéa promotes Long to COO
Covéa Insurance has promoted Stephen Long to chief operating officer in the latest of a series of personnel changes at the insurer.
CII adds two executive directors to leadership team
The Chartered Insurance Institute Group has appointed Ben Turner as executive director of member engagement and Will Holt as executive director of learning.
People Moves: 27 April – 1 May 2026
Stay in the loop with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QuestGates’ Dave Clare
Dave Clare, operations director - building consultancy division of QuestGates, highlights the importance of getting the fundamentals right and raises the possibility of doing a turn singing My Way dressed as a calculator.
Open GI looks to Barnard from Aviva to succeed Badley as CEO
Open GI has appointed James Barnard from Aviva to succeed Simon Badley as group CEO, with the change scheduled “over the course” of the second half of the year.
Biba 2026 Countdown: CyberCube’s Nate Brink
Nate Brink, head of broker sales and account management at CyberCube, is flying in from Michigan to attend his first ever Biba Conference and is looking forward to savouring a local curry and gaining valuable insights in the coffee queues.
Covéa bolsters personal lines leadership with McCann and Midgley in new roles
Covéa Insurance has created two new roles, adding Jamie McCann as head of personal lines and promoting Jade Midgley to head of trading for personal lines.
Allianz revamps commercial management as Nick Hobbs exits after 25 years
Nick Hobbs is to leave Allianz UK after 25 years with the insurer, stepping down from his roles as chief distribution officer and chairman of Allianz Engineering Inspection Services.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Gambit and Mode Insurance’s Ajay Mistry
Gambit Insurance Solutions and Mode Insurance founder and director, Ajay Mistry, recommends being selective and not trying to be everywhere on Wednesday night and sending a quick message/thank you by way of a follow up after the event.
Jensten recruits Swindle from Ardonagh-owned Geo
Jensten has swooped for Geo Underwriting CEO Jaime Swindle as its new CEO of product and distribution.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Crawford & Company’s Paul Lofkin
Paul Lofkin, UK and Ireland president at Crawford & Company, hails the all round skills of the loss adjusting sector and promotes the benefits of digital enablement to free up time to invest in client relationships.
People Moves: 20 – 24 April 2026
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Biba 2026 Countdown: UGL’s Derek Coles
Derek Coles, CEO of UGL, suggests Biba is often a tale of two breakfasts, compares Brendan McManus to Ben Stokes and recommends a watering hole for some downtime away from the conference centre.
Watkins joins SRG after almost a decade at PIB
Zoe Watkins is set to take on the head of private clients post at Specialist Risk Group at the end of June.
Broking Success: From undesirable to undeniable – Matt McCall, Raw Material Cover
Raw Material Cover founder and CEO Matt McCall describes his journey with his specialist waste and recycling broker as a Cinderella story. He speaks to Jonathan Swift about being invited to the ball at Lloyd’s and the plans for wholesale and…
Biba 2026 Countdown: nCino’s Hanré Cillié
Hanré Cillié, RVP of insurance growth and compliance at nCino, reckons Biba really gets going when the coffee kicks in and might be seen singing Wonderwall dressed as an alligator after dinner on Wednesday night.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Zurich’s Morgan Lyons
Zurich head of mid-market at Zurich Morgan Lyons warns Biba first timers not to go too big on night one and believes it is the time for brokers to be laser‑focused on their placement strategies.
Interview: Hiscox UK CEO Jon Dye on plans to create a ‘bigger and better specialist’ insurer
Having joined in 2022 as UK CEO, Jon Dye has certainly made a mark in terms of the Hiscox retail arm’s results and recruitment. Jonathan Swift asks him how he plans to maintain an upward trajectory against the backdrop of a soft market and economic…
Wiser Academy launches AI apprenticeship
Wiser Academy has launched an artificial intelligence Academy programme in what it claimed is an industry first.
Jensten restructures with CEOs of broking and product & distribution
Jensten Group has added ex-Gallagher leader Gareth Birch as CEO of broking as it restructures into two trading divisions.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Premium Credit’s Jon Howells
Jon Howells, chief commercial officer for insurance premium finance at Premium Credit, compares the Tuesday evening before conference starts as arriving back at school for a new term and won’t reveal his favourite Biba haunt for fear of more lanyards…