Articles by Callum Brodie
Hastings adds Peter Blanc to its board of directors
Aston Scott executive chairman Peter Blanc has been appointed to the board of directors at Hastings Insurance Group along with legal private practice stalwart Selina Sagayam.
Claims Management Regulator issues first fine to nuisance CMC
A claims management company that pestered people with nuisance calls about noise induced hearing loss claims has become the first firm to be fined under new regulatory powers.
Aviva UK GI records best COR in 8 years despite fall in profits
Aviva was aided by benign weather conditions in delivering its best UK general insurance combined operating ratio for eight years in the opening six months of 2015, however operating profit fell 11% to £223m (H1 2014: £251m).
Auto Windcreens pens 10 year deal with AA following acquisition
Automotive glass repair and replacement provider Auto Windscreens has acquired the AA’s automotive glazing business AA Auto Windshields.
Quindell to be investigated by Serious Fraud Office
The Serious Fraud Office has notified Quindell that it has opened an investigation relating to past business and accounting practices at the outsourcer.
Capital return to shareholders on the Quindell agenda
Quindell non-executive chairman Richard Rose has outlined the firm’s approach towards a capital return that will see shareholders receive at least £1 per share in a cash handout funded by the sale of its professional services division.
CEO appointment imminent at Quindell as financial restatements are revealed
Quindell is on the verge of appointing a new group CEO with a mandate to lead a review of its businesses after financial restatements by the outsourcer turned the 2013 after tax profit of £83m into a £68m loss.
L&G brings COR down to 82% as disciplined pricing sees GWP fall
Legal & General delivered a 36% increase in operating profit to £38m within its general insurance business at the halfway point of 2015 (H1 2014: £28m).
Integro snapped up by PE house Odyssey
International insurance brokerage and risk management firm Integro has reached an agreement to be acquired by entities affiliated with private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners.
Most Biba members source PI cover from specialist brokers
The vast majority of brokers seek advice and buy their professional indemnity policies from a fellow intermediary that specialises in PI cover, a British Insurance Brokers’ Association survey has found.
News Editor's Comment: Out of the loop
Most business-minded people like to think of themselves as being ‘in the loop’ when it comes to decisions directly impacting their commercial affairs, which is why the recent disconnect between insurance firms and government is likely to feel like…
Giles and Oval integration cost Gallagher $25m in first half of 2015
The combined cost of integrating the Giles and Oval businesses cost Arthur J Gallagher $25m (£16m) in the six-month period ending 30 June 2015.
Gallagher not expecting 'material adverse effect' from FCA review
Arthur J Gallagher is confident a skilled person review by the Financial Conduct Authority will not have a “material adverse effect” on the firm’s results of operations.
Amanda Blanc to lead combined UK GI operation from next year
Axa UK commercial lines and personal lines intermediary CEO Amanda Blanc is to take control of Axa’s entire general insurance operation in the UK as of 1 January next year.
Benign weather helps Axa UK shave 1.2pp off its first half COR
Axa’s UK business was aided by benign weather conditions in delivering an improvement of 1.2 percentage points in its combined operating ratio for the first half of the year, which stood at 97% (H1 2014: 98.2%).
RSA to record boom in profits by 2017, according to analyst estimates
Profits at RSA are predicted to skyrocket in 2017 after a year of marginal decline, according analysts’ consensus estimates.
Zurich UKGI personal lines boss Holliday heads for the exit
Zurich UK general insurance CEO Vibhu Sharma has reassured brokers that service levels will not be impacted by the departure of UKGI personal lines and Endsleigh managing director Tim Holliday, who has stepped down “to pursue opportunities outside the…
Swiss Re delivers 11% boost to income despite 'economic uncertainty'
Swiss Re CEO Michel Liès has hailed his firm’s “solid set of figures” for the opening six months of 2015, amid “uncertainty about overall economic growth” around the world.
Zurich share price drop blamed on 'destructive history of acquisitions'
The 2% fall in Zurich’s share price yesterday (28 July) against a backdrop of a marginal market-wide uptick has been attributed to the “destructive history of acquisitions in the insurance sector and Zurich specifically”.
RSA advises shareholders against action in light of Zurich interest
The board of RSA has noted the announcement that Zurich is evaluating a potential offer for the insurer, but have claimed talks have yet to take place and has advised shareholders not to take any action at this stage.
Consumers considering cutting coverage in wake of IPT rise
The government’s decision to hike insurance premium tax will trigger a surge in customers moving to new providers and cutting back on or cancelling policies, according to research by Consumer Intelligence.
Income down almost 200% in Q2 at Aspen amid selective strategy
Aspen Insurance saw gross written premium fall by 7.3% to $722.8m (£464m) from $779.3m in the second quarter of 2015 as the firm reduced its exposure to certain energy-related Lloyd’s lines of business.
Insurers round on Aviva following 'disingenuous' ABS accusations
Aviva has been criticised for playing the “blame game” in the fight against fraud following accusations that rival insurers with alternative business structures are guilty of “feeding the beast” of fraudulent whiplash claims.
Sun Life launches into GI market with appointment of Stanney
Ex-Castle Cover products director Simon Stanney has been hired to spearhead Sun Life’s foray into the general insurance market.