Articles by Callum Brodie
Environmental guarantees sought as Costa Concordia prepares for final voyage
France’s environment minister is seeking environmental assurances from her Italian counterpart before giving permission for the Costa Concordia to be towed past the French island of Corsica on its way to Genoa for scrappage.
Aviva personal property boss Stead one of three RSA PL hires
RSA has bolstered its UK personal lines underwriting and pricing team with the addition of Aviva’s Paul Stead and internal appointments Daniel Venner and Ian Bostock.
Customer satisfaction index ranks LV as best performing insurer
LV and Saga Insurance were the insurance industry’s sole representatives in the top 50 organisations listed in the Institute of Customer Service’s UK customer satisfaction index.
BIA 2014 - The Technology Award: LV=
Finalists: Ageas; Cunningham Lindsey; GAB Robins UK; NHS Litigation Authority
BIA 2014 - Investing in the Profession Award: Hiscox
Finalists: Aon; Allianz Insurance; Miller; Sterling Insurance Group; Thomas Carroll Brokers
BIA 2014 - Digital Initiative of the Year: Kwik Fit, part of Ageas
Finalists: Allianz Insurance; British Gas Insurance; Carrot Car Insurance
BIA 2014 - The Major Loss Award: GAB Robins UK (University of Strathclyde fire)
Finalists: Allianz (flood response); Cunningham Lindsey (Daw Mill Colliery fire); Davies Group (Essex flood response); Oil Facilities; Zurich Insurance & McLarens (Lytchett Minster Upper School fire)
RSA and Allianz team up with Una on SME package
Independent broker alliance Una has launched an insurance package for SMEs alongside insurers RSA and Allianz.
BIA 2014 - Young Achiever of the Year: Keri Ann Egan, Circle Insurance Services
Finalists: Huw Barker, Ageas; Louise Jones, Thomas Carroll Brokers; Lucy McGinn, Marsh
Video: Interim UK GI CEO David Smith's message to brokers
As Zurich's UK executive team contemplates the future of the business following the departure of UK general insurance chief executive Steve Lewis, Post news editor Callum Brodie got the lowdown from Lewis' interim successor David Smith and two members of…
Towergate Underwriting pair poached by Gallagher
Arthur J Gallagher has snapped up Towergate Underwriting duo Andy Westby and Simon Lewer for its online managing general agent division’s senior management team.
Caretaker Zurich boss Smith targets 10% share of SME market
Zurich will attempt to wrestle control from established SME players Axa and Aviva in order to secure a 10% market share following the launch of its broker-only e-trading platform, according to interim UK general insurance chief executive David Smith.
IRS purchase will see Lark surpass £26m of annual revenues
Lark Group has moved to boost its annual revenues to more than £26m with the acquisition of Suffolk-based commercial broker Insurance Risk Solutions.
RSA UK claims boss Pitt to replace Hannah as Esure COO in Q4
Esure has appointed RSA’s claims director for UK and Western Europe David Pitt as its chief operating officer.
Zurich heralds 'quantum leap' following SME e-trading launch
Zurich commercial broker interim managing director Richard Coleman believes the launch of a broker-only SME digital trading platform puts his firm “way ahead of the competition”.
Coleman to head up Zurich commercial broker on interim basis
Zurich’s commercial broker business will be led by the insurer’s SME director Richard Coleman on an interim basis following the temporary promotion of David Smith to the role of UK general insurance chief executive.
Smith talks up customer focus after winning BIA achievement award
The British Insurance Awards 2014 achievement award winner Barry Smith has underlined how good practice in supporting policyholders can improve customer confidence in the sector.
Elite points to profits of £7m and £115m GWP in past year
Elite Insurance has unofficially calculated profits before interest and tax of £7m and gross written premium upwards of £115m for the 12 months to 31 March 2014.
DLG agrees equity investment in telematics firm The Floow
Direct Line Group has completed a 15% equity investment in specialist UK based telematics provider The Floow.
Capital investment sparks £1.2m tech upgrade at Bollington
Bollington Insurance Brokers has responded to demand for more interactive services by investing £1.2m in new software and call handling systems.
Rural Insurance to terminate relationship with Broker Network
Rural Insurance managing director Ian Barclay has attributed a strategy of getting closer to brokers as the major factor behind his firm’s decision to sever ties with Towergate’s Broker Network.
Homeowners see premiums fall 22% in four years
Home insurance premiums in the UK are at their lowest level in four years, according to a study by Money Supermarket that calculated the average premium at £124.
Wunelli partners with Innovation Group on BPO deal
Innovation Group has formed a partnership with Wunelli to become the telematics firm’s recommended business process outsourcing provider.
Zurich calls for improved data checking among brokers
Brokers have been challenged to help maintain the fight against fraud after a survey by Zurich showed that almost a quarter of ID checks fail because customers’ dates of birth have not been entered correctly.