Commercial
Markel UK targets 20% growth a year – Sykes
Jo Sykes, divisional director for the UK broker channel at Markel, told Insurance Age the specialist insurer has growth ambitions of around 20% a year from a UK perspective.
Jensten completes Burbage and Seymour buys
Jensten has completed the purchases of Melville Burbage and Henry Seymour & Co following final regulatory approval.
Patons increases GWP by more than 18%
Patons Insurance’s gross written premiums rose by 18.42% organically to £27m in the financial year to March 2024 – a record high.
Broking Success: Investing in customer relationships
Ex-Swinton boss Gilles Normand, CEO of Academy, sees investing in customer relationships will help the broker grow through recommendations as it moves towards mostly commercial lines.
Brown & Brown promotes Callan to retail CEO
Brown & Brown Europe has appointed Carolyn Callan as CEO for UK retail, just over a week after Insurance Age revealed the departure of Duncan Carter.
Reminder – The 2024 UK Broker Awards deadline is 7 June
With a deadline of 7 June you have just over a week left to get your entries in for the 2024 UK Broker Awards.
Ansvar launches care and welfare insurance policy
Ansvar Insurance has launched a care and welfare insurance policy with customisable cover options.
SRG drives into motorsport with Allianz hire
Specialist Risk Group’s managing general agent, MX, is on the starting grid for the launch of a specialist motorsport underwriting offering, and has added a new leader.
Beaven promoted to group MD at Academy, Mountifield joins as COO
Academy Insurance has promoted Richard Beaven to the newly created role of group managing director with Nick Mountifield joining from PIB as group chief operating officer to succeed him.
Only one in 10 consumers aware of ‘ghost broking’ threat
Ninety percent of people who have heard of online insurance fraud are unaware of the term ‘ghost broking’, according to the Association of British Insurers.
Ecclesiastical aims to help brokers with Independent Schools Risk Barometer
Ecclesiastical has launched The Independent Schools Risk Barometer 2024 to help brokers talk to clients in the sector about the biggest risks they face.
Uncorking the Great British wine market – the insurance of vineyards
David Harrison, viticulture specialist at NFU Mutual, shares his thoughts on meeting the insurance challenges facing the booming winery and vineyards sector.
Simply Business boosts profit 42% in 2023
Xbridge, which trades as Simply Business, achieved double-digit profit and revenue growth in 2023.
Biba 2024: Aviva’s Rebecca Gambrell on evolving the digital future
Aviva is listening to brokers’ feedback on what they want to etrade and responding appropriately, according to SME portfolio director Rebecca Gambrell.
Broker Insights unveils new CEO as founder Edmond becomes president
Data analysis specialist Broker Insights has changed its leadership team, in a move it hopes will help accelerate UK growth and expansion in the US.
Biba 2024: Arag UK leaders promise best in class for brokers as integration rolls forward
Arag and Das have exited the state of limbo and can now power forward with the integration of the two businesses, the bosses have told Insurance Age.
Personal lines the stand out as Aviva UK GI GWP jumps 19% in Q1
Aviva has revealed that its UK personal lines business was up 27% in the first quarter of 2024 contributing to a 19% hike in general insurance premiums to £1.7bn.
Broker scepticism on capacity in commercial motor eases but still high at 76%
A survey by Direct Commercial has found 76% of brokers expressing scepticism about the availability of specialists or insurers offering capacity for the haulage, waste disposal and courier markets, down from 83% six months ago.
SRG looking east for expansion with new backers
Specialist Risk Group is eyeing up buying in Europe and Asia, CEO Warren Downey has confirmed to Insurance Age.
Broker Expo registration opens as UK Broker Week 2024 launches
Today Insurance Age launches the second ever UK Broker Week, with registration for Broker Expo on the 10th October at the Birmingham NEC now open.
Biba 2024: Pen’s Nick Wright on staying disciplined and kissing frogs
Pen Underwriting’s chief development officer Nick Wright tackles consolidation in the managing general agents market, the risk of disintermediation for brokers, and the opportunities from artificial intelligence.
PCH makes three acquisitions in three months
Premier Choice Healthcare, the health insurance intermediary owned by Brown & Brown, has completed three deals in three months.
Brown & Brown retail CEO Carter exits
The CEO of Brown & Brown’s retail division Duncan Carter has left the business, Insurance Age can reveal.
Specialist Risk Group gets two new backers as HGGC sells up
Private equity house Warburg Pincus and Singapore government-owned investor Temasek have partnered to buy Specialist Risk Group from HGGC.