United Kingdom (UK)
Commercial grows at Direct Line as group falls to £45m loss
Direct Line grew commercial business across NIG and its own direct brands by 14.7% in 2022 to £749.3m of gross written premium.
Coalition expands product line for brokers struggling to get cyber cover
Coalition has launched an excess cyber protection product in the UK.
RSA’s Mooney stresses ‘we have got a lot of work to do’ for better service
RSA’s managing director of UK commercial, Lee Mooney, has vowed to institutionalise a consistent service that shows appetite, ongoing ambition to grow and desire to be there for customers as the insurer targets adding 200 broker relationships on top of…
Allianz reveals global plan to bring mid and large corporate under one model
Allianz Group has unveiled Allianz Commercial featuring an integrated approach for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and mid-sized country-based accounts.
Interview: Biba CEO Steve White - Leading from the front
To coincide with the 10th anniversary of his appointment as CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, Insurance Age takes Steve White on a trip down memory lane.
People Moves: 6 – 10 March 2023
Follow the latest insurance personnel moves.
Aviva’s Winslow insists ‘we can do more’ to return broker service to pre-2019 levels
With rates continuing to rise, Adam Winslow, CEO of Aviva UK & Ireland general insurance has stressed that it can do more when helping brokers through the challenging market.
Aviva UK operating profit slips in 2022 as COR ticks up
Aviva’s UK combined operating ratio worsened to 96.1% in 2022, from 94.6% the year before, with operating profit down 3% to £309m.
Nirvana completes MBO from Castel
Nirvana Risk Partners, a division of Castel Underwriting Agencies, has completed a management buyout from the club-style MGA formation platform.
Rocketing commercial premiums piles pressure on SMEs
Recent figures from Acturis show that commercial insurers are continuing to increase the cost of cover across a range of core sectors.
Open GI sale not a cause for concern, say users
Treasurer of Open GI User Group, Mark Sollis, has told Insurance Age that the potential sale of the software house by its majority shareholder is not a cause for concern.
Lloyd’s hails underwriting performance as COR drops to 91.9% in 2022
Lloyd’s has labelled its underwriting performance in 2022 as good as any in recent memory with “more than expected” improvement.
Brokers urged to check motor policy wordings amid boom in green parts
Brokers are being urged to ensure they are up to date with changes in motor policy wordings, as the trend is escalating for insurers to use green parts.
Hiscox “on the front foot” with brokers, says CEO Aki Hussain
Group CEO of Hiscox, Aki Hussain, has forecast further UK commercial growth, and a return to expansion in personal lines at the insurer in 2023.
Gallagher wins Knight Frank Finance account from Howden and Uinsure
Gallagher has won the contract to provide clients of mortgage and insurance advisory specialist Knight Frank Finance with insurance products.
Paul Moors teams up again with ex-Bollington chief at insurtech
Paul Moors has joined motor broking insurtech GoShorty in his first major role outside of the Arthur J Gallagher-owned Bollington business.
Hiscox posts UK commercial growth for 2022
Hiscox has reported $778m (£657.8m) of gross written premium in the UK for 2022, as the wider group delivered its best underwriting performance since 2015.
International Women’s Day: Zurich’s Michelle Taylor – “we just have to have the conversation”
To mark International Women’s Day, Insurance Age met with Zurich’s Michelle Taylor to gather her insights on gender diversity in the market.
BoE warns of 20% hike in insurer failure risk from Solvency II reforms
The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned that proposed Solvency II reforms to loosen capital requirements will increase the risk of life insurer failure by 20%.
Profile: Katie Baker - Women in C-suite
Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, chief operating officer at My First, Katie Baker, shares her route to the top, and the importance of vocal role models.
CII reveals planned service disruptions
The Chartered Insurance Institute has revealed that there will be disruptions to its membership and learning services while it transitions to a new customer and member relationship management system this month.
Thin end of the wedge – Could an FCA property commissions crackdown extend to all SME products?
Could the government’s plan to ban insurance commissions being taken by landlords, managing agents and freeholders on buildings insurance be extended to other lines? Saxon East looks at what might happen if this proves to be the start of something more…
McClarrons adds marine specialist Soak Insure as AR
North Yorkshire-based McClarrons Insurance Brokers has expanded into the marine market, taking on specialist Soak Insure as an appointed representative.
The runners and riders in the Open GI sale
Open GI is reportedly up for sale, with private equity shareholder Montagu wanting to exit. Who are the likely new investors?