Articles by Martin Friel
Hastings Direct to create 200 new jobs this year
Hastings Direct has announced that it aims to create 200 jobs in 2012.
UK GI premiums reach £46.4bn
Net worldwide premium income of the UK insurance sector has fallen for the third year running in 2010 to £198.7bn.
Beazley back in for Hardy
Beazley has reafirmed its interest in acquiring Hardy.
Jubilee chief in sudden departure
Jubilee Group Holdings (Jubilee) has announced that Andreas Loucaides, CEO of Jubilee Managing Agency, has left the business with immediate effect.
Tokio Marine continues with regional focus
Tokio Marine Europe Insurance has made two additions to its UK underwriting team.
Axa offloads Denplan to rival firm
Axa has sold its Denplan business to the Simplyhealth Group for £115m.
Brit streamlines business ahead of possible sale
Brit Insurance Holdings has confirmed that from the beginning of 2012, all of the group’s reinsurance and specialty business will be written by Lloyd’s Syndicate 2987 (managed by Brit Syndicates Limited).
Liberty Mutual appoints chief underwriter
Liberty Mutual Insurance (LMI) has appointed a new chief underwriter of its commercial operations.
FSA issues £2.8m fine for TCF breaches
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has doled out a near £3m fine to an American insurer operating in the UK.
AEGIS brings in new non-exec
AEGIS London has appointed former HCC chief underwriter as non-executive director.
Quinn family continue to fight €2.3bn loan claim
The wife of bankrupt businessman Sean Quinn claims she does not have to repay a €3m bank loan because she is a homemaker, was unduly influenced by her husband and regularly signed documents he put in front of her without reading them.
ABI questions Ombudsman's publishing policy
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has questioned the Ombudsman’s policy of publishing all its decisions.
Canopius appoints new UK chief
Canopius Group has appointed a new group chief executive responsible for the UK business.
Powerplace director put on gardening leave
Powerplace and its sales and marketing director have parted company, Insurance Age can reveal.
Biba throws weight behind OFT motor investigation
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) has added its support to the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) investigation into credit hire and vehicle repair.
Finances improving at Oval despite £3m loss
The Oval Group is still making a loss but has improved its position on last year, according to the latest set of results.
Patrick Smith not involved in Swinton share drama, says internal memo
Covea, the French insurer and ultimate parent of Swinton Group, has moved to distance chairman Patrick Smith from any wrongdoing associated with the sacking of the Swinton board.
Video: What the Papers Say, latest edition
This month, Insurance Age editor Martin Friel is joined by Jon Sellors, head of thought leadership at RSA and Insurance Age features editor, Emmanuel Kenning.
Firstassist sold by venture capitalist owners
Firstassist Legal Expenses Insurance is to be acquired from Equistone Partners Europe by Burford Capital.
Scottish broker makes Edinburgh acquisition
Central Insurance has completed its second acquisition of the year with the purchase of Edinburgh-based Castle Cairn Insurance Brokers.
Axa boss quits to "pursue other interests"
Mike Keating, managing director, intermediary and partnerships sales at Axa, has left the business.
Ageas finds new boss for Rias and Castle Cover
Ageas Retail has found an MD for its Rias and Castle Cover businesses following the resignation of Janet Connor earlier this year.
Insurance Age blog: Those flip-flopping insurers
Insurers are a funny bunch. They always seem to be changing their minds about stuff. One day they love a particular line of business, the next they are getting out of it.
Axa reveals package of benefits for chartered brokers
Axa Commercial has unveiled a trio of benefits for chartered brokers following a period of market consultation.