Gossip from the industry - See you at the nineteenth

Following last year's devastating floods, the industry would welcome one ingredient this summer: sunshine (that is assuming it doesn't cause too much subsidence). Luckily for Mihir Pandya, Allianz's fraud guru, the sun was shining literally and metaphorically as he picked up £500 winnings at Royal Ascot ... and not for betting on which hat the Queen was wearing. Overheard's efforts, betting on every single horse, failed in the most abject fashion imaginable as the favourite romped home, meaning it was sitting on a crushing loss of £40. Now, where were those expense accounts?

Following Italy's distinctly grinding performance in the European Championships, Towergate's Marc DonFrancesco offered one response to the world champions' crashing out on penalties in the no-score bore against Spain: "It's better than Horlicks."

Meanwhile, we hear that the former boss of Smart and Cook is returning to Axa, which bought the aforementioned broker; we would have loved to have Overheard that particular conversation.

Finally, for all you golfers, PB has combined with sister titles Post and Insurance Age to create the Insurance Golf League. Registration is less than £10 and, as well as giving you the opportunity to establish bragging rights over your colleagues and fellow industry professionals, you can also win a golf break in the K Club in Ireland. Log on now at insurancegolfleague.co.uk and let us know if you deserve a mention in Overheard.

If you want to keep up with all the latest press trips, industry events, gossip, broker news and upcoming British Insurance Awards, then sign up to our regular blog; go to PB Week, at professionalbroking.co.uk, and click on the 'e-mail alerts' button on the left-hand side of the homepage.