United Kingdom (UK)
Acrisure completes UK broker rebrands
Acrisure has rebranded Russell Scanlan and WH&R McCartney, completing its programme of renaming its UK brokers.
Defaqto spends £11m snapping up pricing business
Defaqto has bought Pearson Ham Group’s market pricing business for £11m.
Zurich trying to ‘bear hug’ Beazley, says investment advisory firm
“Zurich is clearly trying to ‘bear hug’ Beazley. They obviously think they are offering a price that is high enough for target shareholders to put pressure on the company to sell itself.”
Beazley board ‘not yet had the chance to consider’ £7.67bn Zurich takeover proposal
The board of Beazley has responded to Zurich’s bid confirming it has not had time to consider the improved offer having rejected a previous approach.
Clear makes vet broker first deal of 2026
Clear Group has kicked off 2026 purchasing specialist veterinary insurance broker Shire Insurance Services, strengthening its UK retail pillar.
Lloyd’s recruits Bichard from PwC as CFO
Lloyd’s has named Jim Bichard as chief financial officer to start in the role this April succeeding Alexandra Cliff who will be leaving to pursue other opportunities.
Biba to open AI Academy
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association is working with Markel to offer an AI Academy for the trade body’s members.
Biba pitches industry wide fair value assessment templates
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has targeted further regulatory rule simplification in its 2026 Manifesto, as it urged industry wide support of developing a fair value assessment template, and called on the government to deliver a new…
US cyber specialist promotes UK boss to chief commercial officer
Cowbell has promoted Simon Hughes to chief commercial officer stepping up from being senior vice president of global distribution and general manager of the UK.
Aviva brings charity activities in Community Fund and Foundation together
Aviva has unveiled a simplified structure for its charitable activity bringing together the Aviva Community Fund and its previous grant-making programme, the Foundation, into a single offering.
Virtual Agents specialist Unitary becomes Biba associate member
Unitary has joined the British Insurance Brokers’ Association as an associate member, in a move the automation platform claimed strengthened its commitment to supporting the UK broker community.
Biba and ABI join forces on ‘Total Signposting’ initiative
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers have launched a new voluntary industry-wide Total Signposting Commitment.
Financial lines MGA Verde Risk Management launches
Verde Risk Management has launched, specialising in the financial lines market, predominantly commercial crime, management liability and financial institutions.
CII to move to new headquarters in London
The Chartered Insurance Institute Group will move its global HQ and London base to 30 Old Broad Street in the City of London from 2 March 2026.
Cyber remains top business risk but AI rising fast in Allianz Risk Barometer
Cyber incidents created many headlines in 2025 and are still the biggest worry for UK companies in 2026, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer.
Fenchurch boss highlights importance of risk education and opportunities for 2026
Fenchurch Insurance Brokers managing director Jamie Coyne plans to hit the £27m GWP mark in 2026 shifting away from smaller premium accounts, as the broker targets expansion in construction and sees opportunities in food and drink, and manufacturing.
Markel launches life science combined
Markel has launched life science combined created specifically for SMEs operating in the sector.
Amiga Specialty boosts financial institutions offering with Lloyd’s capacity
Amiga Specialty has secured Lloyd’s capacity to support its financial institutions proposition as the managing general agent continues to expand its offering since being launched last year.
JMG spend on deals surges to new high in year before PE investment
JMG Group spent £89.62m on buying in 2024/25, the financial year ahead of private equity firm GTCR investing alongside existing backer PE house Synova and the broker’s leadership team.
Circle within a whisker of £10m turnover
The parent company of Circle Insurance Services grew turnover in the year ended 30 April 2025 as profits recovered compared to the prior period.
QBE gets ready to launch into media PI
QBE is preparing to launch into the media professional indemnity market and has recruited two underwriters ahead of rolling out the product.
Nexus buys medical tourism specialist MGA
Brown & Brown-owned managing general agent Nexus Underwriting has bought Sure Insurance Services, a provider of specialist solutions for the medical tourism industry.
Seventeen Group boosted turnover but losses widened in run-up to PE investment
Seventeen Group grew turnover by 16.4% to £52.76m in 2024 helped by 11 acquisitions however the cost of the deals hit the bottom line.
Gallagher names Belfast and Bristol office bosses
Gallagher has appointed Michael McLaverty as head of its Belfast office and expanded Mark Holmes’s role to included being managing director of the Bristol office.