Articles by Callum Brodie
Be Wiser boss predicts return on investment after year of growth
Be Wiser Insurance finance director Andrew Dunkerley has heralded the fact the firm achieved increased profits of £2.2m (2013: £2m) against a backdrop of significant investment in staff and training.
Improved contractors' combined product unveiled by Arista
Arista Insurance has launched a revamped contractors’ combined product following analysis on how the commercial lines underwriting specialist’s previous offering could be improved.
Direct Group signs five year home affinity deal with Shop Direct
Ryan Speciality Group business Direct Group has penned a five year home insurance affinity deal with multi-brand digital retailer Shop Direct.
Fusion expansion leaves 50 roles at risk
Towergate’s decision to expand its Fusion brand across its bespoke underwriting portfolio has left approximately 50 roles at risk of redundancy.
Dwindling volumes contribute to lack of optimism in GI
General insurers have bucked the trend of growing optimism across the financial services industry, according to the latest CBI/PWC survey.
Competition leads reinsurers to drop terrorism exclusion clauses
Heightened competition for reinsurance renewal has resulted in reinsurers withdrawing the terrorism exclusion clauses that were introduced after the September 11 attacks.
FCA boss Wheatley defers bonus over life investigation blunder
Financial Conduct Authority chief executive Martin Wheatley and eight senior colleagues have decided to defer their annual bonus following the regulator’s blunder in announcing a life insurance investigation that sent share prices tumbling.
Markel to underwrite US trade credit from New York office
Markel Corporation will underwrite trade credit insurance in the United States from its New York office as of next month.
McLarens Aviation swoops for GAB team to run liability product line
McLarens Aviation has appointed a five-strong team from rival loss adjuster GAB Robins to launch an aviation liability product line.
Airclaims eyes global growth after rebranding as McLarens Aviation
Specialist loss adjuster Airclaims has rebranded as McLarens Aviation in a bid to exploit the parent firm’s global footprint as a springboard to international growth.
Back office admin highlighted as key in improving efficiency
The majority of insurance industry executives polled by information management provider EDM Group believe back office administration presents the best opportunity for insurers to improve efficiencies and cut costs.
QBE portfolio manager Mendola joins Advent
Lloyd's insurer Advent has appointed QBE Europe’s Sarah Mendola to the new role of head of property binding authorities.
UK growth behind W.R Berkley Europe's MGAA membership
W.R. Berkley Insurance Europe has joined the Managing General Agent’s Association in a bid to help drive the firm’s UK development.
Experts call for caution despite low level hurricane activity prediction
Hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin is projected by seasonal outlook providers to be near or below average for the 2014 season, according to Guy Carpenter’s latest hurricane season briefing.
RSA unveils changes to global broker function
Former Benfield Group general counsel Derek Walsh will take over responsibility for RSA’s global broker sales with key relationship managers following the retirement of Paul Donaldson at the end of the month.
Higos teams up with NCI on pet insurance offering
NCI Vehicle Rescue has agreed a partnership with independent broker Higos Insurance Services to exclusively provide its network of branches with pet insurance.
Non-standard cover available on Keelan Westall e-trading platform
Keelan Westall has made its ‘agility' non-standard cover available via its ‘dynamic' online e-trading platform for residential property risks.
Aon global power committee to be chaired by Waerseggers
Aon Risk Solutions has appointed its European power specialty leader Denis Waerseggers as chairman of its newly created global power committee.
Faber CEO Howard departs to lead Willis-funded Acappella
Willis facultative and wholesale reinsurance arm Faber Global has named Alistair Lester as its incoming chief executive ahead of the departure of Jason Howard.
Marsh unveils cyber gap insurance in bid to beat exclusions
Global broker Marsh has teamed up with London market and European insurers to launch a cyber gap insurance offering in a bid to aid energy firms’ effective management of cyber risks.
Tesco Bank adds RSA to home insurance panel
RSA has joined Tesco Underwriting, Axa and Towergate on the home insurance underwriting panel of Tesco Bank.
Direct Group pens £4.5m products deal with Be Wiser
Doncaster-based insurance services firm Direct Group has signed a £4.5m deal with broker Be Wiser to provide “quality enhanced” products.
Dual hires Am Trust PA and travel underwriter MacNaughton
Hyperion underwriting arm Dual has appointed Am Trust Underwriting’s Richard MacNaughton as a senior underwriter in its accident and health division.
Brokers largely dissatisfied with mid-market claims performance
The issue of low quality outsourcing operations has been cited among areas insurers need to improve upon in a survey of 180 UK commercial claims brokers, in which only five companies received a net positive satisfaction score.