Articles by Martin Friel
Groupama wins place on Sky Insurance panel
Groupama Insurances has signed a deal with Sky Insurance Services to provide cover for modified, prestige and performance cars.
NIG continues regional BDM appointments
NIG has appointed a new business development manager for the East Anglia region to target the SME sector.
Andrew Moss demanded near 10% payrise days before departure
Andrew Moss, the former chief executive of Aviva, demanded a 9.5% pay rise just days before he was forced out amid shareholder pressure over executive pay.
Aviva consolidates corporate arm
Aviva is to roll its construction and power business into its corporate and speciality risk arm to form a new team – construction, power and engineering (CPE).
Towergate strengthens Midlands retail team
Towergate Insurance has made three senior appointments to its Midlands broking team.
Broker Network member fined and banned for fraud
A former Broker Network member has been banned and fined by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for committing insurance fraud.
New IMD clause brings threat of compulsory commission disclosure
Brokers face the threat of mandatory commission disclosure if a proposed revision of the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD) is accepted, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) has warned.
Axa UK delivers significant growth in commercial lines and household
Axa's general insurance business delivered nearly €10bn (£8bn) in premium in the first quarter of 2012, the UK contributing €996m of that total.
Catlin sees rates hardening across lines in Q1
Catlin's chief executive believes the market is heading the right direction with rate increases across the board as the insurer reported a 12% hike in GWP.
CFC adds to professional risks team
CFC has appointed Andrew Walker to its professional risks team.
Keychoice Underwriting transfers business to Towergate
Keychoice Underwriting has entered into negotiations to transfer its book of business to Towergate only two years after it was launched.
Peter Hubbard appointed executive chairman at UK General
Former Axa UK CEO, Peter Hubbard, has been appointed the new executive chairman of the UK General Group following the resignation of Howard Posner.
Zurich's UK arm sees profits dip but COR remains steady
Zurich UK has delivered an underwriting loss of $8m (£4.9m) and a combined operating ratio (COR) of 101.3%, only a slight deterioration on last year (101.2%: 2011).
Markel International achieves huge improvement in Q1 COR
Markel International has delivered $277.6m (£141.3m) of GWP in the first quarter of 2012, a 9% increase on the same period last year ($255m).
Number of chartered brokers nears the 100 mark
The Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) drive for professionalism has seen 12 insurers and 94 broking firms commit to chartered status according to its annual review of 2011.
New D&O and HNW insurer enters UK market
XN Financial Services (UK), a subsidiary of Montreal-based XN Holdings, has received UK accreditation from the Financial Services Authority authorising it to operate in the UK.
Biba extends 'Find a broker' function to mobiles
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) has launched a ‘Find a Biba Broker’ app for iPhones and iPads.
MGA offers new management liability policy to SMEs
Manchester Underwriting Management (MUM) has launched a new management liability policy for SMEs.
Tysers reports strong growth in 2011
Hawkes bay Holdings, the parent company of Lloyd's broker Tysers and underwriting agency Aquila Underwriting, delivered strong growth in revenue and pre-tax profit in 2011.
Aviva shares could rally on Moss resignation
Andrew Moss’ resignation will be welcomed by shareholders following a series of “unfortunate” events, according to investment bank, Panmure Gordon.
MMA delivers much improved profitability ahead of Provident merger
MMA Insurance has delivered a strong set of results for 2011, its final set of results prior to its merger with Provident and rebrand to Covéa.
XL launches new combined product for UK businesses
The XL Group has launched a new combined product incorporating liability, property and business interruption covers.
Sometimes insurers are the victims ... no, really.
Without doubt my favourite story of the last week was that of the Limerick man who went on hunger strike in protest at Axa’s refusal to pay out on a €24,000 motor claim. Hunger strike is a particularly extreme reaction and particularly emotive in that…
Catlin makes hire for contingency business
Catlin Group has hired Simon Lyons as a class underwriter specialising in contingency insurance.