Personal
Q&A: Criterion managing director Helena Evans
Loss-adjusting boss Helena Evans outlines the latest trends her firm is seeing among high-net-worth customers, assesses the continued prevalence of underinsurance, and suggests how brokers can help combat fraud.
Clear Group snaps up HNW MGA
Shape Underwriting has acquired private client and high-net-worth specialist managing general agent Protect Underwriting.
Start-up broker to launch in Q3 targeting motor
Pizza, a start-up insurance broker, is set for its consumer launch in the third quarter of 2025.
Premium finance costs ease ahead of FCA report
The cost of home and motor premium finance has fallen in the past six months, according to research by Pearson Ham.
Ex-broker bosses beaten in mayoral elections
Two former broker bosses have lost in their attempts to become mayors following yesterday’s local elections.
Interview: Sue Coffey, Covéa
With no distractions and a clear strategy centred on five core products, Covéa personal lines director Sue Coffey tells Jonathan Swift the insurer is keen to grow its share of the regional broking market, by sticking to what it is good at.
Gibson and Johnson set to leave Allianz after claims merge
Graham Gibson, chief claims officer for Allianz Commercial, and Caroline Johnson, claims director for Allianz Personal, are set to exit the insurer in Q4.
Axa swings back to UK underwriting profits in 2024
Axa Insurance UK returned to underwriting profit in 2024 with a £45m result, reversing a £103m deficit in 2023.
IPT receipts surge 9% to £8.88bn in 2024/25
Data from HMRC has confirmed receipts from Insurance Premium Tax jumped by £737m in the 2024/25 financial year reaching a new high of £8.88bn.
Brokers see growth opportunities in non-standard property
Brokers have ranked unoccupied homes as top of the key growth areas list in a Prestige Underwriting survey on the non-standard market.
A-Plan details £3.6m rebrand spend as turnover ticks up but profits dip in 2024
A-Plan, now rebranded as Howden, grew turnover by 2.1% to £167.3m in the year ended 30 September 2024 as investments in staff, rebrand costs and IT spend hit the bottom line.
Ceta posts turnover and profit growth in run-up to sale
Digital niche personal lines and SME broker Ceta Insurance grew turnover by 23% in the year parent Atec Group was bought by European private equity investor Perwyn.
Ageas CEO Middle reassures brokers after Esure deal
Ageas will keep its focus on growing with brokers, CEO Ant Middle committed, as the Esure takeover creates a “balanced” portfolio with 50% of business still through the broking channel.
Ripe completes GJW Direct buy
Ripe has bought boat insurance specialist GJW Direct from Munich Re Specialty.
Ageas claims ‘number three’ UK personal lines position with £1.3bn Esure deal
Ageas has reached an agreement with Bain Capital to acquire Esure to create what it claims is the third largest UK personal lines player.
News analysis: To what extent have brokers bought into Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme?
Flood specialists warn of a persistent knowledge gap among general brokers, but highlight that more providers need to make the Build Back Better scheme available. Ida Axling reports.
Aviva reports 18% increase in ghost broking frauds in 2024
Aviva detected an 18% increase in ghost-brokered policies and linked an additional 8,600 cases to open investigations into known ghost broking cases in 2024.
Aviva partners with Towergate on caravan cover
Ardonagh-owned Towergate has teamed up with Aviva on caravan, park and leisure homes.
Two specialty MGAs set to merge
Managing general agents Nirvana and Pulse have announced plans to merge their businesses.
Flood Re boosts education drive with academy launch
Flood Re has launched a dedicated online e-learning platform providing free training on the Flood Re scheme and the Build Back Better initiative.
PwC highlights pressure on motor, home and specialty insurance from Trump’s tariffs
PwC has warned of higher claims costs, particularly in motor and home, leading to pressure on premium rates due to the US placing new tariffs on its global trading partners.