Pet insurance
Gary Duggan to lead Hood Group as CEO steps down
Hood Group CEO Simon Hood has stepped down, with Gary Duggan taking over as interim executive chairman, Insurance Age can reveal.
Can brokers doggy paddle their way to pet insurance success?
What are the opportunities for brokers in selling pet insurance and why are so few people talking about it? Insurance Age explores the market and explains why long-standing competition and data – or lack of it – are potentially the biggest obstacles.
Policy Expert grows pre-tax profit by more than £25m as motor moves into black for first time
Policy Expert increased its profits before tax to £30.1m in the last financial year, up significantly from £4.9m, as underlying Ebitda more than doubled to £55.3m.
Allianz confirms 650 job cuts in UK
Allianz is to cut 650 jobs in the UK, just over 10% of its workforce, by the end of 2025.
Interview: Emma Rawlinson, CEO of Markerstudy Distribution
After four job titles in just 12 months, Markerstudy Distribution CEO Emma Rawlinson tells Insurance Age about what comes next on brands, growth, acquisitions and more for the multi-billion-pound business as the Atlanta integration proceeds at pace.
Markerstudy Distribution eyeing up consumer lending opportunities
Markerstudy Distribution is investigating the possibility of moving into consumer lending, CEO Emma Rawlinson told Insurance Age.
Consumer trust in insurers hits lowest point since 2021 – Fairer Finance
Public trust in the insurance industry has dropped to its lowest level in four years, according to the latest Trust in Insurance Index from Fairer Finance.
Biba 2025: Allianz to sell pet insurance through brokers
Allianz is planning to enter the broker pet insurance market, Insurance Age can reveal.
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.
Admiral CEO warns of ‘uncertain’ 2025 after Ogden boosted UK profit
Admiral saw its UK profit rise by 64% to £977m in its 2024 results, with the insurance group attributing 17% to the change in the Ogden personal injury discount which improved to 0.5% last year.
Broker buys firm with Airbnb, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis partnerships
Tedaisy, the pet insurance broker, has acquired dog health and activity app Perro, aiming to combine the latest technology with insurance solutions.
Ex-Aviva boss Mark Wilson joins Policy Expert as chair
Former Abacai and Aviva leader Mark Wilson will join Policy Expert as chair next month with current chair and CEO Steve Hardy focusing on his CEO role.
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.
Wholesaler seals second capacity deal in a month
Addept Insurance Services has sealed a capacity deal with The Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation for the firm’s new dedicated tenant pet damage protection insurance for landlords, called Not for Lions.
Cinven buys half of Policy Expert
Private equity house Cinven has signed up to buy 50% of Policy Expert from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Broking Success: Galloping forward with Harry Hall
Liz Hopper, managing director of equine specialist Harry Hall and CEO of the group holding company, aims to double gross written premiums in the next 24 months and broaden the product offer.
FCA warns it might repeat GAP intervention in other product sectors
The Financial Conduct Authority has said that it might need to repeat the intervention it has taken in the guaranteed asset protection [GAP] market in other sectors.
FCA: brokers struggling to marry remuneration with evidence of fair value assessment
Brokers are still struggling to provide adequate evidence they are appropriately assessing whether their remuneration is consistent with the fair value of the product they are selling.
Interview: Addept Group managing director Richard Finan
Addept MD Richard Finan gives Insurance Age the lowdown on his return to the market; his thoughts on changes to the MGA market in the wake of Consumer Duty; and the challenges of creating ancillary products in a post-FCA GAP intervention world.
Addept looks to go live in Q4 as it finalises capacity deals
Wholesaler Addept Insurance Services has revealed it plans to sell its first product in the fourth quarter, as it strives to hit a target of £5m net written premium by year three.
Markerstudy boss Spencer hails “momentous milestone” as FCA approves Atlanta deal
The merger between Markerstudy and Atlanta, the personal lines broking business of The Ardonagh Group, has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority.