Articles by Martin Friel
New professional risks MGA launched following Novae purchase
Nexus Underwriting Management has launched a new Lloyd’s MGA focusing on professional indemnity and management liability business.
MMA extends relationship with Kwik-Fit
MMA has joined the panel of Kwik-Fit-owned The Green Insurance Group.
Ascot latest to blame catastrophes for poor set of results
Ascot Underwriting has reported a £12.6m loss for 2011, down over £100m on its pre-tax profit of £97.1m in 2010.
Keelan Westall/Powerplace merry go round of hires continues
PowerPlace has lured former employee Damian Baxter back from Keelan Westall nearly two years after he left the business.
Lloyd's losses expected to approach £1bn as catastrophes bite
Lloyd’s is expected to report a near-£1bn loss in 2011 as the Japanese tsunami and Australian floods take their toll on the market.
FSA vows to maintain intensive supervision in final year
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has vowed to maintain its policy of intensive supervision and will continue to implement European regulatory directives as it releases its final business plan before it is disbanded.
Incisive Media's Budget Day Live
Incisive Media’s impressive range of brands serving the financial services sector is collaborating from 3pm onwards today to bring you analysis of and reaction to George Osborne’s Budget Statement.
Sarah Lyons "on leave" from Giles
Sarah Lyons, group managing director of Giles Insurance Brokers, has left the company and is in the process of addressing "certain contractual issues”.
Peter Blanc to take over as Oval CEO
Peter Blanc is set to become the new group CEO of Oval with current chief, Phillip Hodson, taking up the role of non-executive group chairman.
Groupama's UK results bring delight and frustration for CEO
Groupama UK’s chief executive, François-Xavier Boisseau, has admitted that his satisfaction at producing record levels of profit in 2011 has been tempered by the sale process forced upon the insurer by its French parent.
HDI-Gerling hires liability underwriter from rival
HDI-Gerling has signed a new liability underwriter as the industrial specialist bids to grow its international portfolio.
Hector Sants - an appraisal
So Hector Sants is off. The man who ran the FSA during its most turbulent period is heading off into the regulatory sunset.
Groupama delivers record profits but sees revenues dip
Groupama UK has experienced a huge upswing in profitability for the second year in a row delivering £43.5m in 2011 against £23.7m in 2010, itself a huge improvement on the previous year (2009: £14.1m).
Mitsui makes move in construction market
Mitsui Sumitomo has strengthened its construction capabilities with a new appointment.
One in ten young professionals take out no insurance
One in ten young professionals would rather “take the risk” than spend money on insurance, a new study has revealed.
Canopius hit hard by catastrophe losses
Canopius has suffered a tough 2011 posting a multi-million pound loss and a three figure combined operating ratio (COR).
Admiral identifies £250,000 worth of potential fraud
Admiral has identified a quarter of a million pounds worth of potential fraud in just nine days following the implementation of a new claims fraud system.
Arista makes fleet underwriting appointments
Arista Insurance has made two new appointments to its fleet team in Birmingham.
London broker association shakes up board
The London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association (Liiba) has made several appointments to its board.
Brightside's Holman hits out at slow approach to DVLA access
Brightside Group has hit out at the insurance industry for not securing access to the DVLA database sooner than it is.
Mike Keating resurfaces at specialist MGA
The former managing director of Axa Personal Lines Intermediary, Mike Keating, has returned to the market at a specialist non-standard property underwriting agency.
FSA warns of customer detriment in UK general insurance
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has identified what it sees as three main risks of consumer detriment in the general insurance market and warned that it will not allow a repeat of the payment protection insurance mis-selling scandal.
Arag appoints internally for key broker role
Arag has appointed a new broker business manager as it makes changes to it sales and marketing roles.
UK insurance will have to go east to maintain dominance
The UK insurance industry will have to go east in the future if it wishes to retain its global pre-eminence.