United Kingdom (UK)
Gallagher promotes three to RMD as Patterson takes North West chair role
Gallagher has promoted James Fletcher, Mark Kerry and James Murray to regional managing director roles, all reporting to Peter Matthews, managing director of the North for Gallagher’s UK and Ireland Retail division.
Allianz Commercial appoints regional head of multinational as Hegel promoted
Allie Chadwick has been named regional head of multinational in the UK at Allianz Commercial, effective immediately.
Review of the Year 2024: iprism’s Ian Lloyd
Ian Lloyd, CEO of iprism, reflects on integrating the MGA’s first acquisition, the over-use of the term AI and how he might shake the curse of ‘dad dancing’ by appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.
Sompo priortising regional hires and MGAs over expanding broker panel
Sompo remains “open minded” to further UK regional expansion, but is happy to build on its existing locations in Birmingham and Manchester for now.
Ageas promotes Beckett to MD of broker and partnerships
Ageas UK has appointed chief distribution officer Adam Beckett to the newly created role of managing director of broker and partnerships.
Ecclesiastical partners with Clear on local councils scheme
Ecclesiastical has teamed up with Clear Councils, part of Clear Group, adding the broker’s local councils insurance to its schemes book in an arrangement that will come in to force at the start of 2025.
Partners& in triple swoop
Partners& has added another two brokers and a managing general agent to its stable, Insurance Age can reveal.
Industry reacts to discount rate change
Insurance industry specialists have welcomed the government moving the personal injury discount rate to 0.5% with PwC calculating it will lower motor premiums by £50 on average.
Personal injury discount rate shift will cut motor premiums, says PWC
The government will move the discount rate applicable to personal injury lump sum compensation payments to 0.5% as of 11 January 2025.
Polaris at 30 – Jackie Childs
In the concluding instalment of Polaris at 30, senior business analyst at the insurance industry-owned organisation Jackie Childs rounds up the progress on digital trading moving from monthly personal lines updates sent out on floppy discs to the new era…
Rokstone launches disgrace cover
Managing general agent Rokstone has added to its contingency product suite with the launch of disgrace cover.
CFC unveils new product aimed at mid-to-large tech companies
Specialist insurance provider CFC has launched what it describes as a “comprehensive insurance solution” for mid-size to multinational tech companies.
Polaris at 30 – Phil Bayles
In the final day of the Polaris at 30 Q&A series Ardonagh’s Phil Bayles assesses the development of digital trading from slow, cumbersome and inflexible systems to becoming mainstream.
FCA makes “significant changes” to ‘name and shame’ proposals
The Financial Conduct Authority is making four “significant changes” to its initial transparency proposals labelled ‘name and shame’.
Policy Expert strikes £1bn co-insurance deal with Bridgehaven and Accredited
Personal lines specialist Policy Expert has added a second capacity provider in Bridgehaven as part of a new co-insurance arrangement with existing backer Accredited.
Analysts point to 265p per share to sweeten Aviva-DLG deal
Experts from Peel Hunt have labelled Aviva’s 250p per share approach for Direct Line as a “reasonable offer” adding there is “scope to sweeten the bid to 260-265p”.
Polaris at 30 – Derek Cowie
Derek Cowie started working at General Accident (now Aviva) in 1992. Polaris was founded in 1994 launching digital trading platform imarket in 2004.
Ex-LV boss Mike Crane joins Axa Commercial as director
Axa Commercial has appointed Mike Crane as SME & Specialty director to take up the role at the beginning of January next year.
Polaris at 30 – Theo Duchen
Acturis Group co-CEO Theo Duchen delivers the third Q&A of the Polaris at 30 series and details the collective goal that would put “the UK light years ahead of any other market”.
Ex-Accredited boss Johnson joins Hadron
Former CEO of Accredited Insurance (Europe), Colin Johnson, has joined Hadron as CEO of international operations.
Car and motorcycle insurance complaints stick in FOS top five
The number of car and motorcycle insurance complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service in the second quarter of 2024/25 dropped compared to the same period a year ago however the sector has remained in the top five.
Start-up broker partners with Shepherd Compello on motorsport insurance
Shepherd Compello has partnered with start-up Podium Insurance Brokers, a specialist motorsport broker.
Investments bring downward pressure on profits at Bridge for 2024
Bridge Insurance Brokers has reported a drop in profits for the year ended 31 March 2024 as turnover fell 3% year-on-year.
MPs and peers slam “incompetent at best, dishonest at worst” FCA
A cross-party group of MPs and peers has hit out at the Financial Conduct Authority and demanded substantial changes after its call for evidence found the regulator “is seen as incompetent at best, dishonest at worst”.