Insurer
Allianz Retail launches direct motor product
Allianz Retail has launched an online car insurance product direct to the consumer under the Allianz brand for the first time.
Former UK General chief exec Tim Rolfe joins Canopius
Canopius has announced the appointment of former chief executive of UK General, Tim Rolfe, as head of UK retail strategy.
Injury claims costs in motor rising by nearly a third a year, claims Towers Watson
The cost of injury claims in the UK car insurance market has grown recently by nearly 30% per annum according to Towers Watson.
Open GI links with imarket
Open GI has joined forces with imarket to provide a range of new commercial insurance products on its Open Trader platform.
Lloyd's profits drop by over 50%
After the "costliest" half year since it began interim reporting, Lloyd’s has reported that its profit before tax has more than halved to £628m (June 2009 £1.32bn) while the combined ratio has risen to 98.7% (June 2009 91.6%).
Zurich targets mid-sized market
Zurich has announced it is launching a new strategy and product suite for its mid corporate business customers.
HSB raids Powerplace for South East broker development exec
Specialist engineering insurer HSB Engineering Insurance has hired Bryony Glover to the position of development executive for London and the South East region.
BLG expands following purchase of Halliwells' insurance arm
Due to the Halliwells acquisition, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has occupied a further four floors of its existing premises in Chancery Place, Manchester.
Insurance broking sees rise in profitability, survey says
Activity in the UK financial services sector grew in the last three months at the fastest rate since June 2007, although this growth was much slower than was expected, according to the latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey.
Brokers urged to ensure clients sign up to climate change scheme
Allianz Engineering said it is reminding brokers of the 30 September deadline for businesses to sign up to a Government-backed climate change and energy-saving scheme.
Fortis signs £59m travel deal with Tesco
Fortis has agreed a five year deal with Tesco Bank to provide underwriting, claims management and sales and service support to Tesco Bank’s travel insurance customers.
Insurance Age blog: What I learnt from Oktoberfest
The original Oktoberfest occurred in Munich, on October 12, 1810 to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The event was so successful that the decision was made to renew it in…
Groupama aims to boost brokers counter fraud activities with new hire
Andy Pagett has been appointed by Groupama Insurances as counter fraud manager. He joined Groupama from Fortis and reports to head of technical claims, Steve Caffrey.
Editor's comment: The motor market is shot
A senior industry figure told me this month that it is the "worst time" in the history of the motor market for insurers. A pile of news has confirmed this, including RBS's loss of over £200m in its first-half results, Equity's reserving issues and NIG…
Market Watch - Professional indemnity: Cover-all expertise
Emmanuel Kenning takes a whistle-stop tour of the post-recession professional indemnity market to find the transferable skills brokers can learn from specialists in a range of sectors.
CII roundtable - Professionalism: The rise of the professional
In this PB roundtable discussion, leading figures from the profession discuss the merits of chartered status, the need to educate customers about it and perceived difficulties in achieving it
P J Hayman warns of unpredictable travel insurance rates
Specialist travel insurance provider P J Hayman has forecast higher rates for scheme holders and brokers with travel insurers revising and renewing schemes after the summer holidays.
News Analysis - Council parking charges: Nottingham Council's private parking charges pile pressure on businesses
The profession has reacted with horror to newspaper reports that car parking charges could be levied by councils on private spaces.
News analysis: Brokers can choose their commissions (to a point)
This year, brokers have been given the opportunity to choose their commissions by two insurers.
News Analysis - Insurance 360: Arag voted best legal expenses insurer
Arag has been voted the best legal expenses insurer by brokers in a survey by PB's sister research unit Insurance 360.
Dual’s national business unit targets £50m book
Dual’s national business unit has confirmed ambitious growth plans to coincide with its 5th anniversary.
New run-off scheme launched
Tenet has released a new run-off cover scheme which it claims will plug a hole in the professional indemnity insurance market.
Dual launches packaged office product
Dual Corporate Risks has announced the launch of a packaged office product as the inaugural product from its new property and casualty division.
RBSI hires former Co-op MD as finance director
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance (RBSI) has announced that John Reizenstein will be joining its executive team as finance director, subject to Financial Services Authority approval.