Articles by Martin Friel
Groupama chief slams legal profession over referral fees
The chief executive of Groupama Insurances has blasted the “lobbying power” of the legal profession in preventing the introduction of an outright ban on the use of referral fees.
Markel makes management changes
Markel International has made some senior management changes to Markel UK, its retail division, which it said were designed to allow the business to develop retail opportunities worldwide.
Arista establishes permanent presence in East Anglia
Arista Insurance has appointed Stephen Robinson as development underwriter for the East Anglia region.
Hastings Direct makes latest senior appointment
Hastings Direct has appointed a new managing director of retail.
Barbon delivers over £11m profit in second year of growth
Barbon Insurance Group recorded a pre-tax profit of over £11m based on a 4% increase in turnover in 2010, its second successive year of growth.
Consumers urged to avoid claims managment companies in PPI cases
Consumers could lose out on over £2bn in payment protection insurance (PPI) redress by going to claims management companies according to consumer protection body, Which?
Trade bodies hail TV campaign to tackle uninsured driving
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have welcomed the launch of a television campaign to tackle uninsured driving.
Ryan Speciality completes purchase of Lloyd's player
Jubilee Group Holdings has confirmed its sale to Ryan Specialty Group.
Barbon employees to get slice of acquisition pie
Barbon Insurance Group has launched a unique new employee incentive in a bid to increase the number of acquisitions it makes.
Brokerbility members reveal best performing insurers
Axa Commercial Lines has topped the Brokerbility bi-annual Satisfaction Survey for the second consecutive time.
New Bill puts responsibility for securing risk info on insurers
The onus of responsibility to provide all relevant information regarding a risk has shifted from the customer to the insurer following the introduction of a new Bill.
Allianz chief hails broker book but laments state of commercial market
Allianz UK CEO, Andrew Torrance, hailed the performance of the insurer’s broker retail book but lamented the continued soft condition of the commercial market as he revealed the insurer's financial performance for the first three months of 2011.
RSA's Donaldson on the move in managament shuffle
RSA has made some significant changes to its senior management with a shuffle that may have direct implications for brokers.
SSP platform closure could leave it vulnerable to attack
Software provider SSP is to phase out use of its Sector platform in a decision that could affect some of the biggest names in broking and leave its business open to attack from competitors.
Biba 2011: Biba/IIB merger could drive regulatory change
The proposed merger of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) and the Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) will give the broking industry “one strong voice”.
Biba 2011: My Manchester Q&A Part Two
The team at Post and Insurance Age will again be publishing a daily at the British Insurance Brokers' Association conference in Manchester on Wednesday and Thursday.
Customers may eventually bear brunt of PPI compensation
The decision by the banking sector not to appeal against the recent payment protection insurance (PPI) ruling may not be all good news for consumers it has emerged.
Calls for banks to settle PPI claims swiftly
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has welcomed the decision by the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) and Nemo Personal Finance (Nemo) to accept the High Court’s dismissal of their legal challenge to the FSA’s payment protection insurance (PPI)…
Banks' PPI decision could be bad news for brokers
The banking industry's decision to abandon its appeal against the High Court's judgment on the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) could lead to a further flood of claims.
Banks abandon PPI appeal
The British Bankers' Association (BBA) will not appeal the High Court judgment on the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI).
What the Papers Say
Bluefin's marketing guru Peter Elliott joins Liz McMahon, senior reporter at Insurance Age and the magazine's editor Martin Friel to discuss the trade press' biggest stories.
Junction makes senior partnership appointment
Junction, an insurance affinity specialist firm, has appointed Derek Henry as the new director of corporate partnerships.
Latest insurer signs up to Aldermanbury Declaration
Sterling Insurance has signed up to the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Aldermanbury Declaration.
Howden snaps up professional indemnity specialist, PYV
Hyperion’s broking subsidiary, Howden Broking Group, has acquired the core broking activity of professional indemnity specialists, PYV.