Articles by Harry Curtis
One-in-10 specialty insurers expect to scale AI use in 2025
Oxbow Partners has predicted that 2024 will be a year of divergence for the use of generative artificial intelligence in the specialty insurance and reinsurance markets.
Sompo opens Manchester office as it continues UK expansion
Sompo has opened an office in Manchester, as it continues its efforts to grow its UK regional portfolio.
NFU Mutual hit by lawsuit over Covid losses
A group of more than 30 businesses are suing NFU Mutual for Covid losses suffered between 2020 and 2022.
Regulators challenge two thirds of GI firms on operational plans
Two thirds of general insurance firms have been challenged by regulators on their work to come into line with operational resilience regulations during the last 12 months, a benchmarking exercise by Sicsic Advisory and Oric International has revealed.
Big Interview: Louise O’Shea, CFC
Louise O’Shea, group CEO of CFC, sits down with Insurance Post to discuss where the business is heading following its change of management and what the ‘next cyber’ might be.
R&Q sells UK legacy insurer as it files to appoint liquidators
R&Q has agreed to sell UK legacy insurer Inceptum to Marco Capital and has confirmed that it has filed to appoint liquidators in Bermuda.
CFC developing cyber product to spur international expansion
CFC is developing plans to enter new markets around the world through white-labelled cyber insurance products, CEO Louise O’Shea has said.
Blueprint Two rollout hit by more delays
The first phase of the rollout of Blueprint Two has been pushed back again, due to testing of the technology running behind schedule.
RSA and NIG to arrive at single product set in mid-2025
RSA and NIG will harmonise their two product sets into one by September next year, regional director Steve Scott has said.
Acrisure UK MGA targets trebling of GWP
Acrisure’s UK managing general agent operation has set its sights on more than trebling its gross written premiums within three years, following a relaunch of the business last year.
Chicken shop owner has wings clipped for fowl play in fraudulent fire claim
A chicken shop owner and his brother have been handed prison sentences following investigations by Allianz and Sedgwick into a fire in 2018.
Cover for damage caused by social unrest faces uncertain future
Cover that UK businesses currently take for granted is increasingly being hived off into the political violence insurance market, a report published by Airmic has highlighted.
Contractual requirements boost cyber insurance adoption
A cyber expert at Marsh has warned contractual obligations driving businesses to purchase cyber insurance could be a double-edged sword.
LMG hopes to ‘reenergise’ captives appetite after election hold-up
The London Market Group wants to prevail on the next government to advance work on the creation of a UK captives regime as soon as possible, CEO Caroline Wagstaff has said.
Marsh CEO scores insurers ‘C+’ for innovation
Marsh president and CEO Martin South has said that he would score the insurance industry at best ‘a C+’ for innovation and that market structures are preventing the sector putting client needs first.
Buyers demand greater stability and more forward thinking from insurers
While a softening commercial insurance market may be welcome news to corporate insurance buyers, rate instability leaves insurers’ credibility at risk, Marsh head of risk management placement Cat French has told Post.
WTW spies SME affinity opportunity following investment ‘gear change’
WTW has invested in its affinity insurance capabilities, with the aim of establishing programmes targeted at SMEs as well as consumers.
Insuring property damage caused by cyber attacks
Analysis: As clients in heavy industry and manufacturing look to insurance to cover property damage that occurs due to cyber attacks, Harry Curtis explores the risks that arise at the intersection of cyberspace and the physical world plus what options…
Industry watches as election puts Martyn’s Law passage in doubt
Anticipated legislation targeted at boosting public premises’ resilience to terrorist attacks could now be delayed by the dissolution of parliament ahead of July’s general election.
Andy Haste appointed Canopius group chairman
Canopius has appointed former RSA boss and current Esure chairman Andy Haste as its group chairman, succeeding Michael Watson on 1 July.
Smaller businesses increasingly drawn to growing recall insurance market
Smaller businesses are increasingly buying product recall insurance in order to meet their contractual obligations, spurring growth in what has long been a niche corner of the industry.
Winslow continues Direct Line management overhaul
Direct Line Group CEO Adam Winslow has continued his makeover of the insurer’s management team, appointing a new managing director of motor and chief strategy and investor relations officer.
Allianz research does little to assuage underinsurance fears
Fewer than one in five small business owners have increased their sums insureds despite widespread concern over inflation, research by Allianz Commercial has found.
Ransomware victims urged to consider alternatives to paying hackers
Insurance sector trade associations have collaborated with the National Cyber Security Centre on guidance that they hope will reduce ransom payments made by companies that fall prey to cyber attacks.