Opinion
Profile: Banking on growth
Towergate chief executive Mark Hodges tells Martin Friel about his plans to transform the entrepreneurial and acquisitive company into a thriving corporate (“with a little ‘c’”) entity
Feeling lucky?
The continuing soft commercial market could be a major threat to the industry, unless lady luck intervenes again, says Tony Cornell
Editor’s letter - March 2012
“Read between the lines and you will detect some belief that the worst of the bad times may be over”
Life’s little knock-for-knocks
A recent accident has highlighted everything that is wrong with the current motor claims process, explains Tony Cornell
Editor’s letter - February 2012
“It’s not that I want to make you all feel bad it’s just that, for brokers, there hasn’t been a lot to be cheerful about”
Are you a visionary or a strategist?
Really successful businesses are led by visionaries or strategists, but the UK insurance industry seems to be lacking both, says Tony Cornell
The tide is turning
Brokers are slowly realising the potential of schemes to boost profits, explains Tony Bloomer
Profile: Biba does Brussels
Distribution, European influence and a united voice for insurance are just some of the key areas new Biba chairman Andy Homer and CEO Eric Galbraith are focusing on, writes Martin Friel
Editor’s letter - January 2012
“The number of executives… that were dispatched in the last few of months of 2011 is staggering”
The bottom line
Has a focus on the bottom line led to insurers and brokers in the SME sector knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing? City Slug asks
A year to remember
Tony Cornell looks forward to the year ahead and predicts what 2012 holds in store for brokers
Editor’s letter - December 2011
“Hopefully, most of you will have cut out the fat from your organisations and got your business prepared for another year or so of lean times”
Voice of the broker
Lord Turner’s views on the regulation of the market will undermine the future of the broking industry, says Ashwin Mistry
Winners and losers
If the ban on referral fees goes ahead next year, the repercussions could be felt throughout the industry, explains Tony Cornell
Editor’s letter - November 2011
“Having one trade body will only help convince those in power this is a serious industry, united in its desire for fair representation”
Failing to plan…
Broker start-ups need to set out a realistic business plan if they want to succeed in the current uncertain economic climate, explains James Sharp
Disturbing lack of faith
The centuries old principle of uberrima fides, or acting in good faith, has disappeared in non-business insurance, and the industry only has itself to blame, writes Tony Cornell
Editor’s letter - October 2011
“The government, always keen to jump on a bandwagon, has taken up public concerns over soaring premiums”
Right move, wrong time?
Axa’s ambition to grow in the current soft market is high risk but there may be some sound strategic reasons why it is trying, explains Tony Cornell
Data, data, everywhere…
At last, Tony Bloomer might be getting a universal phone charger, but when will the industry have a standard approach to customer data?
Editor’s letter - September 2011
“Brokers would do well to pay attention to the spirit of what TCF was trying to achieve, even if the regulator’s beady eye is elsewhere at the moment”
The shopping spree is over
The golden years of mergers and acquisitions are over. Now it’s time to manage the debts, says Paul Upton
The 10 most stupid insurance decisions
What are the 10 biggest bloopers committed by the industry? Tony Cornell gives us his top 10 insurance calamities
Editor’s letter - August 2011
“My guess is that although there will be further high-profile examples made, this type of practice will continue unfettered”