Articles by Harry Curtis
Government urged to do more to boost cyber resilience
The government should be doing more to boost the UK’s cyber resilience, figures at broker Marsh and insurer Zurich said at a recent panel discussion on closing the cyber protection gap.
Professional indemnity insurers unable to price for genAI exposure
While claims seem inevitable, professional indemnity insurers are currently bearing an unpriced exposure to the use of generative artificial intelligence, RSA’s UK head of PI has told Insurance Post.
Allianz appoints commercial lines leaders ahead of new MD’s arrival
Allianz’s UK commercial lines arm has made two appointments to its management team ahead of the arrival of new managing director Phuong Ly next month.
21 businesses vie for a place in latest cohort for Lloyd’s Lab
The Lloyd’s Lab held a pitch day for its 14th cohort earlier this week, with 21 businesses vying for a spot in the 10-week accelerator programme.
Blueprint Two’s first phase pushed back to 2026
Lloyd’s and Velonetic have confirmed the phase one cutover for the London market’s Blueprint Two modernisation programme will not take place this year.
Ecclesiastical enjoys ‘record new business’ in 2024
Ecclesiastical’s expansion into new sectors helped it achieve “record new business wins” in 2024, as it nearly doubled its pre-tax profit from the previous year.
Lloyd’s CFO urges market not to get ‘carried away’
Lloyd’s chief financial officer Burkhard Keese has warned the market that it is not yet out of the woods, as it posted pre-tax profits of £9.6bn for 2024.
IUA announces Matcham successor
Dave Matcham, the long-serving CEO of the International Underwriting Association, will step down at the end of the next month and is set to be succeeded by Chris Jones.
Q&A: Steve Bramall, Allianz Trade
Steve Bramall, credit director for the UK and Ireland at Allianz Trade, tells Post how the insurer is adapting for uncertain times, what a second Trump presidency means for UK businesses, and why more claims isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Probitas reports ‘best-ever result’ after Aviva acquisition
Aviva’s Lloyd’s vehicle Probitas has reported its “best-ever result” for 2024, posting pre-tax profit of £62m.
Worst fears of a North Sea spill averted
The worst case scenario in terms of an environmental liability loss following the collision of two ships in the North Sea looks to have been averted.
Pool Re opens consultation on SME terrorism cover
Pool Re has launched a consultation on the potential to reintegrate terrorism as a standard covered peril in SME policies.
New business drives Lloyd’s growth in 2024
Lloyd’s has trailed its 2024 results, revealing that gross written premiums across the market hit £55.5bn by the end of last year.
Court of Appeal overturns judgment in favour of insurer
The Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court judgment in favour of insurers, providing a clarification on the how the courts will interpret the Insurance Act (2015).
Aviva creates dedicated commercial combined underwriting team
Aviva has put together 16 of its most experienced underwriters in a dedicated commercial combined underwriting team as it looks to give brokers the confidence to place larger, more complex risks online.
Beazley CEO says ‘it’s getting more difficult to grow’
Beazley has reported record pre-tax profits of $1.42bn (£1.12bn) for 2024, but is forecasting a slowdown in growth this year as market conditions turn.
Cunliffe appointment continues Axa reunion at Markel
Nicola Cunliffe, formerly head of insurance operations at Flock and head of SME trading operations at Axa, has joined Markel as head of trading in the UK.
Broker banned for fraud that led to client’s collapse
The Financial Conduct Authority has banned David Robert Cooke, the former director of Weston-super-Mare broker Professional Construction Risks Limited, from working in financial services.
Pool Re reduces taxpayers’ exposure to UK terrorism risk
Pool Re has completed the placement of a new retrocession programme, shifting more of the financial risk arising from acts of terrorism away from taxpayers and back to the private market.
Howden hit with £20m negligence lawsuit
A luxury hotel group has lodged a professional negligence lawsuit against Howden, alleging oversights by the broker meant it found itself unable to claim for Covid-related business interruption losses in 2020.
Allianz UK to drop LV brand in 2026
Allianz UK’s CEO Colm Holmes has confirmed to Insurance Post that the LV brand is to be dropped in 2026.
Hiscox hits 2024 UK growth target
The growth of Hiscox’s UK retail business gathered momentum over the course of 2024, finishing the year just within the insurer’s 5% to 15% target range, according to its results announcement.
Settlement reached in Covid event cancellation dispute
A $90m (£71.2m) reinsurance dispute involving several Lloyd’s syndicates over losses incurred by Covid-enforced event cancellations in the US and UK during 2020 and 2021 has been settled.
Lyons returns to UK as Gallagher specialty CEO
Gallagher has appointed Sarah Lyons as CEO of its London-based specialty division, succeeding Jonathan Turner, who is leaving the post after five years.