Articles by Jonathan Swift
Two 'manageable' issues holding up Flood Re PRA authorisation three weeks from launch, CEO McCafferty admits
Flood Re still has two obstacles to overcome before it is granted authorisation by the Prudential Regulation Authority - despite only being three weeks away from its proposed launch date (4 April).
Post Digital Insurance Collective: Aviva CDO Brem - digital needs its own P&L to make it a board room reality
To succeed in the digital space insurer boards need to have the "guts" to make it a strategic priority, pull capital in from elsewhere to prove it, give it its own profit and loss "teeth" and build a few icons to underline a commitment to the cause.
Post Digital Insurance Collective Blog: Design thinking, feeling uncomfortable and three centuries of caffeine fuelled innovation
Following last week's Digital Insurance Collective meeting, I promised to put together a blog consisting of my top eight take homes from my discussions and observations. So here are my thoughts, please share your own in the comment box below.
Insurers need 'massive mind-shift' to create Amazon one click revolution, claims Aviva’s Brem
Insurers need to focus on the "ultimate tailoring" of their offerings and take the plunge on "appification", if they are going to compete with online giants like Amazon.
Slater & Gordon says UK redundancies likely after 155% profit crash and £448m goodwill write down
Slater & Gordon has said there will “likely” be redundancies and office closures following a review of its UK operations and a goodwill write down of A$876.4m (£448.4m).
Claims Club Awards: Catching up with the rising stars
Post caught up with a quartet of previous winners of the Rising Star at the Claims Awards to see what winning the trophy meant to them, how their careers have progressed since, how they think claims is viewed by the wider insurance fraternity and what…
Blog: Super hero insurance takes on the DC and Marvel Universes
With Marvel's Deadpool currently setting the cinema box office alight, and plenty more comic adaptions on the way starting with Batman versus Superman in March, I thought it might be time for some Friday fun.
Allianz-owned Euler Hermes reports £324m profit in 2015
Allianz trade credit subsidiary Euler Hermes today revealed an operating profit of €417m (£324m) in 2015 on revenue of €2.64bn.
Blog: Does the idea of Google parent Alphabet buying AIG have legs?
Earlier this week Citigroup analyst Todd Bault triggered a number of headlines and healthy amount of debate by suggesting that AIG should be acquired by Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Patrick Snowball: bankers and regulators are ruining the GI market
Many of the UK’s major general insurance companies are suffering because their boards have turned the businesses into pseudo-banks, and manage them accordingly to pacify the authorities.
Your last opportunity to help shape the SME insurance market of the future
SMEs are often described as the life blood of the UK economy.
Endsleigh digital boss Harper joins millennial insurance start-up Zugar Znap
Endsleigh Insurance’s head of digital, Iain Harper, has joined millennial-focused insurance and lifestyle start-up Zugar Znap Group as digital director.
Aon international broking revenue falls 10% to $2.76bn despite organic gains
Aon has today reported its international broking arm – which includes the UK – saw revenue fall 10% to $2.76bn (2014: $3.05bn) in 2015. A figure that jumps to 12% less currency impact.
Blog: It's Superbowl 50 - the insurance market as NFL teams
With the climax of the NFL season this weekend to commemorate Superbowl 50 I wondered: If these insurance names were American football teams, which franchises would they be?
Munich Re releases €1.4bn of reserves as it records €3.1bn profit despite Ergo struggles
Munich Re this morning reported a consolidated profit of €3.1bn (£2.5bn) (2014: €3.2bn) for 2015 on gross written premiums of €50.4bn (2014: €48.8bn).
AA underwriting arm opens for business targeting 250,000 customers and telematics
The AA's new Gibraltar-based insurance company has opened for business targeting a quarter of a million policyholders.
Axa invests in 'pioneering' blockchain technology specialist Blockstream
Axa Strategic Ventures, the €230m (£175m) venture capital fund set up by the French insurance giant, has today announced it is co-leading a $55m (£37.5m) Series A funding round for Blockstream.
Gallagher to snub 'major' deals in 2016 and may raise up to £300m from debt markets
Arthur J Gallagher chairman, president and CEO Patrick Gallagher Junior has today said the firm has no “large deals on its plate” and that any buys would be “tuck in” ones.
Director of Content’s Comment: Is the timing for listing right?
The news that BGL is looking at a prospective initial public offering has raised a number of questions.
Claims Club blog: Can the SRA grow enough teeth to put fear in 'dodgy' law firms
The word “landmark” seems to be an over-used one when it comes to legal judgements.
Milburn CEO McIntosh banned by PRA after failed PI insurer fined £2.86m
The Prudential Regulation Authority has today imposed a £25,173 fine on Colin McIntosh, CEO of Millburn Insurance and has banned him from holding any controlled functions at any PRA-authorised firm.
FCA issues £15.5m in fines to fill hole caused by Eric, Balva and Millburn failures
The Financial Conduct Authority has fined five individuals and two firms a total of £15.5m for their part in a market failure that left hundreds of solictors without valid cover.
Blog: Five things that could determine whether BGL goes IPO or stays indie
The news that BGL Group is looking at the possibility of an IPO should not come as a surprise.
Director of Content’s Comment: The right man for the FCA job?
The news that then Financial Conduct Authority CEO Martin Wheatley was not to have his contract renewed by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was followed by plenty of column inches predicting who his successor would be and what it would mean for…