Interview
Interview: Nick Hobbs, Allianz Commercial
After the hardest but most energising 12 months of his career, Allianz Commercial’s chief distribution officer Nick Hobbs celebrates the insurer’s expanded appetite as he looks to bring even more quotes and solutions to brokers.
Gauntlet sees first graduate of Broker Builder and ARs joining from other networks
Gauntlet managing director, Roger Gaunt, told Insurance Age he is “frustrated” with the number of account executives that have joined its Broker Builder but highlighted the number of appointed representatives switching from other networks.
Trudgill: One year as Biba CEO
Graeme Trudgill, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, looks to tackle challenges facing brokers as he celebrates a year in the role.
Avid targets £100m GWP by end of 2025
Managing director of Avid Insurance Services, Stephen Gibson, is targeting £100m of gross written premium by the end of 2025, growing from around £75m to £80m this year.
Cowens MD aims for minimum 10% income growth this year
Mark Wilson, managing director of Cowens Group’s general insurance division, told Insurance Age he would be “disappointed” if income didn't grow by at least 10% by the end of the year.
Broking Success: Right opportunity
Matthew Collins, founder and managing director of Ascend Broking, targets growing from £14m to £50m gross written premiums in five years as the firm positions itself as a viable alternative to larger brokers.
Interview: Sabre CEO Geoff Carter
Sabre boss Geoff Carter tells Insurance Age about the upsides for brokers from its IHP rollout, growing in motorbikes after the collapse of MCE and profitable expansion plans in taxi.
Simon Mabb named head of UK regions at AssuredPartners
The new head of UK regions at AssuredPartners has promised a focus on organic growth as he looks to facilitate support and co-operation across the business in the recently created role.
CGI leader Andy Jones on transforming the market and the data standards vision
Creating a data standard is “the real utopia vision”, Andy Jones, director for consulting services in insurance at CGI in the UK, told Insurance Age.
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.
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.
Ex-broker Bartleet seeking election as MP wants industry recognised for its value
The former CEO and owner of Erskine Murray Insurance Brokers, Tom Bartleet, see similarities between politics and broking, as he runs for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming election.
Sporting Sponsor: Verlingue
Insurance Age caught up with Neal Lumb, executive director of sales and marketing at Verlingue, to hear about the how the business sponsors a range of clubs and sports.
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.
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.
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.
Biba 2024: Zurich seeks to take SME service learnings into mid-market space
Zurich’s Harriet Conway, head of retail customer proposition, and Morgan Lyons head of mid-market told Insurance Age the insurer is targeting its teams “heavily” in terms of response times to brokers.
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.
Biba 2024: SSP Broker has eight insurer schemes in pipeline – MD Matthews
Martyn Matthews, managing director of SSP Broker, said the software house has eight insurer schemes in the pipeline after bringing on three since February.
Biba 2024: Sedgwick’s Nicoll sees opportunity in entertainment emerging risks
Ex-Hollywood producer Alex Nicoll, head of media and entertainment at Sedgwick, has explained how his experience and having insider knowledge allows him to empathise with a situation in the sector and make quick decisions.
Biba 2024: Gallagher’s Peter Matthews upbeat on prospects for North West
Gallagher’s area managing director for the North has hailed ongoing organic growth in the North West and improved insurer service as the broking giant eyes up more acquisitions.
Biba 2024: Pen to hit £1bn GWP target a year early says Downey
Tom Downey, CEO Pen Underwriting, hopes the managing general agent will hit £1bn gross written premiums by the end of 2024 or early next year, 12 months ahead of schedule.
Biba 2024: Aviva not afraid of ‘tough’ conversations, but ‘categorially’ committed to broker PL, says MD Morris
Aviva has reiterated its commitment to brokered personal lines business, although it is not opposed to a bit of ‘tough’ love to maintain a consistent approach to the market.
Transparency, team and targets – Zurich boss David Nichols ready to meet and greet brokers at Biba
One year on from his first British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference in the Zurich hotseat, UK head of retail David Nichols shares his key messages for brokers ahead of the upcoming event in Manchester.