Personal
Interview: Kevin Morton, Zurich Private Clients
Kevin Morton, head of Zurich Private Clients, scrutinises the issues that affected the high net worth market in 2023 and shares what is coming next from the specialist provider in 2024.
Fitch: Improving outlook for insurers but no room for complacency
The effect of “baked in” pricing improvements and easing economic headwinds gives an improving outlook for insurers this year, but will only make it less bad than 2023, according to Fitch.
Gallagher hails 8% Q4 organic growth in retail
Gallagher grew UK and Ireland retail business by 8% organically in the final quarter of 2023, while the specialty division achieved a 16% organic uplift, the broker has confirmed.
Amazon to shut Insurance Store after just over a year
Amazon is closing its UK Insurance Store, which was launched with great fanfare in October 2022.
Howden buys Scottish broker Laurie Ross
Howden has bought Glasgow-headquartered personal and commercial lines broker Laurie Ross.
French wholesaler buys motor specialist broker Lexham Insurance
April, a wholesale insurance broker in France and Europe, has bought two-wheeler insurance specialist Lexham Insurance.
Blog: Trust is the most important currency businesses have – lose it and you might never get it back
Trust is hard earned but, according to Staysure CEO Finn Walsh, financial services firms are often wasteful when it comes to this most valued asset.
Just Travel targets brokers with new wholesale arm Aneevo
A new travel insurance distribution platform has been launched for UK insurance brokers.
Qmetric reveals £41m loss in run-up to sale
Policy Expert owner Qmetric lost £41.06m last financial year ahead of being bought by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which has gone on to invest £35m in the business.
Tony Buss to lead merged Arag and Das UK business as deal completes
Arag Group has announced that its UK boss, Tony Buss, pictured, will lead the new enlarged legal expenses business, having completed the acquisition of Das UK from German insurance group ERG Versicherung AG.
Allianz drops LV brand in broker channel
Allianz will rebrand LV Broker in May, the insurer has confirmed.
AssuredPartners’ Borland buys Gibson Hawick
Borland Insurance has bought fellow Scottish broker Gibson Hawick.
Biba launches three claims guides for members
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has unveiled three claims guides for members to use, to help customers better navigate the claims process for home, motor and travel insurance.
Ardonagh kicks off 2024 with HNW deal
Ardonagh Advisory has bought private clients specialist distribution business Hoxton Risk Services in its first deal of the year, Insurance Age can reveal.
Hastings names ex-Abacai leader Jamie Hay as CFO
Hastings Group has appointed Abacai founder Jamie Hay to take over as group chief financial officer during the second quarter of this year.
SRIS introduces private client offering
Specialist Risk Insurance Solutions has launched Specialist Risk Private Clients, bringing together an experienced team, according to a post on LinkedIn.
Opinion: The role of LEI in 21st century justice
Access to justice is one of the cornerstones of civilised society; without it, law and order risk breaking down, threatening the stability we’ve come to take for granted, argues Arc Legal’s Tim Mullin.
Staysure names Finn Walsh group CEO
Finn Walsh has been named Staysure Group CEO, taking over from founder Ryan Howsam.
Caravan Guard reports profit drop
Halifax-based Caravan Guard has reported a 10.7% fall in profit after tax to £2.96m for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Review of the Year 2023: Markerstudy’s Gary Humphreys
Markerstudy group chief underwriting officer Gary Humphreys bigs-up the acquisition of Atlanta Group, and admits he did not anticipate Adam Winslow swapping Aviva for Direct Line Group.
Review of the Year 2023: Aviva’s Dave Martin
Dave Martin, MD of distribution and SME trading at Aviva, hails the virtue of “execution, execution, execution” and predicts underwriters and face-to-face meetings will come back in vogue.
Review of the Year 2023: Pearson Ham's Stephen Kennedy
Stephen Kennedy of the Pearson Ham Group assesses how the phrase ‘unprecedented premium increases’ took centre stage in 2023 and why rates are likely to stabilise next year.
Review of the Year 2023: Ageas’s Middle, Beckett, Clarke and Linklater
The Ageas UK management team ponder the plethora of personal lines exits and why a reduction in IPT could be a 2024 election vote winner.
FOS motor insurance complaints soar again to new five-year high
The Financial Ombudsman Service received 4,036 complaints about car and motorcycle insurance between July and September driven by disputes over vehicle valuation, customer service issues, and delays in claim settlements.