Articles by Harry Curtis
Axa recruits Tombs to head up SME business
Axa Commercial has appointed former Zurich head of SME Paul Tombs as director of its SME intermediary business.
Ecclesiastical teases expansion into ‘new and exciting’ sector
Ecclesiastical has reported an underwriting profit of £24.5m for 2023, down 22% on its 2022 result of £31.5m.
Turbulence in the aviation insurance market
Between the aftershocks of a global pandemic and the spectre of losses resulting from the seizure of aircraft in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, Harry Curtis explores how the 2020s got off to a turbulent start for aviation insurers.
Big Interview: Nick Turner, NFU Mutual
Nick Turner, group CEO of NFU Mutual, sits down with Harry Curtis to explain the insurer's growth ambitions, what it's like running a mutual, and how it serves rural communities.
Zurich reveals it has found more than 160 use cases for AI
Zurich has deployed more than 160 artificial intelligence-powered solutions across its business around the world, the insurer’s group chief information and digital office Ericson Chan has said.
Lloyd’s to up cyber and nat cat scrutiny as market grows
Lloyd’s has laid out its approach to managing cyber and natural catastrophe risk, as the market presses on with plans to grow and build on the profits it made in 2023.
Lloyd’s reports £5.9bn underwriting profit for 2023
Lloyd’s has revealed the market achieved a £5.9bn underwriting profit in 2023 ahead of the publication of its full-year results later this month.
Beazley CEO hails ‘standout year’ for property underwriting
Beazley CEO Adrian Cox has labelled property risks as one of the insurer’s “biggest long-term opportunities”, saying that underwriting conditions increasingly favour the specialty market.
Allianz Commercial bolsters regional distribution management
Allianz Commercial has appointed four regional distribution managers covering the South, North, Midlands and the South West, and London regions.
Hiscox sets sights on 5%-15% retail growth after subdued 2023
Hiscox is aiming to grow its UK retail business by 5% to 15% in 2024, after new business growth in 2023 fell “below management expectations”.
Allianz returns fire on ‘embarrassing’ Revolut allegations
Allianz has hit back at Revolut in its latest filings in a lawsuit over a prematurely axed travel insurance deal.
Gallagher names Marsh’s Nick Harris as UK&I retail CEO
Gallagher has appointed Nick Harris, formerly CEO of Marsh’s Pacific division, as CEO of UK & Ireland retail broking.
Bspoke acquires Police Mutual personal lines business
Bspoke Group has completed the acquisition of Police Mutual personal lines business less than four years after the mutual was absorbed by Royal London.
Q&A: Paul Jewell, Bridgehaven
Paul Jewell, CEO of Bridgehaven, talks to Insurance Post about the advantages of the hybrid fronting model and reinsurers’ reticence around motor business.
Direct Line confirms it rejected ‘opportunistic’ Ageas bid
Direct Line has said it received an approach to buy the group from Ageas on 19 January, which it felt “significantly undervalued” the group and its prospects.
Ageas mulls £3.1bn bid for Direct Line
Ageas has confirmed that it is in the “preliminary stages” of considering a £3.1bn bid for Direct Line.
RSA’s Frost named COO for Hiscox UK
Hiscox has appointed RSA’s mid-market managing director Cath Frost as UK chief operating officer, effective from 15 April.
Frost to leave RSA amid appointments from NIG
RSA regions managing director Cath Frost is set to leave the business, as new appointments from NIG join the insurer’s new look commercial lines leadership team headed by Sonya Bryson.
FCA moves to make enforcement quicker and more transparent
The Financial Conduct Authority has said it will carry out enforcement cases more quickly and has begun a consultation on plans to make its investigations more transparent.
NFU Mutual lifts the lid on cost of recent storms
NFU Mutual has urged customers to make flood-resilient repairs, after revealing £10m of flood damage was reported to it following Storm Henk last month.
Insurers urged to help curb illegal charter flights
The insurance industry has been urged to play its part in raising awareness around the issue of illegal charter in the aviation sector.
Covéa and Markel win Covid BI reinsurance disputes
Covéa and Markel have won a court battle to secure reinsurance cover for Covid-19 business interruption losses.
Shaw promoted to CEO at Tokio Marine Kiln
Tokio Marine Kiln has promoted its chief underwriting officer, Matthew Shaw, to CEO amid leadership changes at parent group Tokio Marine.
Insurers liable for loss of credit hire rental income, rules Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has ruled that insurers are liable to pay for loss of rental income when credit hire vehicles are taken off the road by traffic accidents.