Articles by Callum Brodie
L&G relocating to Birmingham and Hove after Ipswich closure
Legal & General has confirmed it will close its Ipswich office following the decision to create a single claims operation based in Birmingham and move all Ipswich customer service operations to Hove.
Catlin replaces RSA as Touchstone capacity provider
Seventeen Group subsidiary Touchstone Underwriting is replacing RSA with Catlin on its list of capacity providers.
UK casualty claims boss Donna Willis exits QBE
QBE Europe’s head of UK casualty claims Donna Willis has left the insurer after three and a half years in the role.
Entry opportunities available as reinsurance market continues to soften
A softening reinsurance market is expected to continue to impact the reinsurance and Lloyd’s subsectors in 2015, according to a note published by Berenberg, which states that previous underperformance presents opportunities.
CGSC rolls out cost cutting plans following year of stunted growth
Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford is working on plans to streamline costs in a bid to address “profit reducing inefficiencies” related to 18 months of organic and acquisitive growth.
Ex-Arista liability boss cites market ambitions for Gresham switch
Managing general agent Gresham Underwriting has confirmed the appointment of Arista’s head of liability Tony Collman to the position of chief underwriting officer.
Austbrokers racks up 10.5% rise in 2014 after-tax profits
Sydney-based insurance company Austbrokers has chalked up ninth successive year of double-digit earnings growth with a net profit after tax of A$35.5m (£20m) for 2014 (2013: A$32.1m).
ABI defers decision on Flood Re participation for independent Scotland
The Association of British Insurers has refused to rule out the possibility of an independent Scotland being excluded from the insurance industry backed Flood Re scheme.
Flood Re exclusion a possibility for independent Scotland
An independent Scotland could be faced with the prospect of identifying an alternative to the Flood Re scheme established between the UK government and the Association of British Insurers, according to research carried out by Standard & Poor’s.
AGCS Re Brazil opens for business in Peru
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Resseguros Brazil is expanding its South American business by providing reinsurance solutions in Peru.
Austbrokers swoops for 50% share in risk management consultancy
Sydney-based broking business Austbrokers Holdings has sealed its third acquisition in as many weeks with the purchase of equity in specialist risk management consultancy Risk Strategies.
Government on course to introduce RPA despite industry debate
The Department for Education is pushing ahead with plans to introduce a risk pooling arrangement for academies and free schools on 1 September despite vociferous opposition from within the insurance industry.
Blog: Five incidents that rocked Quindell's share price
Promising half year financial results from Quindell this week - in which revenue increased 119% to £357.3m off the back of organic growth and a 15:1 share consolidation aided a 292% rise in pre-tax profits to £153.7m – came as a timely boon for the…
Reinsurance terrorism market softening, claims Guy Carpenter
The terrorism market for reinsurance is softening, according to a report by Guy Carpenter, which claimed greater capacity and an absence of major terrorist-related losses has led to an increase in competition.
Investment of £165m reduces flood risk for 6700 Welsh properties
Multimillion pound investment in resources to reduce the flood risk to thousands of homes in Wales since November 2011 has led to a reduced risk for approximately 6700 properties.
Ex-British Gas MD becomes Aviva's first chief digital officer
Aviva has hired former British Gas commercial and product development managing director Andrew Brem as chief digital officer.
Ecclesiastical bolsters board with Taylor appointment
Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical has appointed former Goldman Sachs Asset Management boss Caroline Taylor as director to the board of the group’s insurance business Ecclesiastical Insurance Office.
Howden introduces 'world first' mining rescue product
Howden Broking Group has launched a standalone product that mitigates the costs of rescue in the event of a mine collapse.
Pen Underwriting unveiled as Gallagher's collective MGA brand
Arthur J Gallagher has signalled its intent to accelerate underwriting growth opportunities and become "a force to be reckoned with" following the launch of a single brand for its collection of UK managing general agencies.
Organic growth at Quindell sparks 119% rise in H1 revenue
Outsourcing firm Quindell has attributed “strong organic and synergistic growth” for a 119% increase in revenue to £357.3m for the opening six months of the year (H1 2013: £163.3m).
Ecclesiastical turns underwriting profit for first time in five years
Ecclesiastical recorded a reduced a pre-tax profit of £18.4m for the first half of the year (H1 2013: £24.4m) despite achieving an underwriting profit for the first time since 2009.
Cobra boss targets 'high-growth' reputational risk market with start-up
Start-up intermediary Reputation Risk Solutions has been launched to take advantage of the “highly underdeveloped” reputational risk sector, amid claims the UK market could be worth £1bn by 2019.
Helvetia shareholders urged to support Nationale Suisse takeover bid
Shareholders of Swiss insurance company Helvetia have been summoned to an extraordinary shareholders meeting where they will decide on the capital increase required for the takeover of Nationale Suisse.
Gallagher plots Welsh jobs following first instalment of £1.13m government grant
Arthur J Gallagher has received the first instalment of a £1.13m grant from the Welsh Government to be put towards establishing a centre of excellence in Wales and creating jobs for local people.