Commercial
Insurance lives in the Covid era – 12 months on from the first National Lockdown: Part One
On 23 March 2020 – as Covid-19 infection rates soared – Prime Minster Boris Johnson told us to “stay at home”, triggering the first National Lockdown. One year on, Post spoke to a host of insurance workers – the home schooling parent, the mental health…
Staveley Head administrators reveal £27.7m in claims
Unsecured creditors have submitted £27.68m in claims against motor broker and managing general agent Staveley Head Limited, far in excess of the £9.98m on the company’s books when Duff & Phelps were appointed as administrators in February 2020.
Davies majority stake sold to BC Partners
International investment firm BC Partners has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Davies Group, for an undisclosed sum.
Mishcon de Reya sees instructions in Covid-19 reinsurance disputes
Law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represented the Hiscox Action Group in the business interruption insurance test case, has revealed it has seen instructions concerning the emergence of disputes in the global reinsurance market.
Brightside’s Brendan McCafferty on digital, scale and success
The Covid-19 crisis has turbo charged the market to make digital changes in months rather than years but there is still more to be done for brokers to stay relevant, says Brendan McCafferty, CEO of Brightside Group.
Insurance Post’s Best Insurance Employer returns for 2021 – take part
Did your employer go above and beyond to look after its staff during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020/2021? Are the perks you receive out of this world? Take part in our survey to give your employer the recognition it deserves.
Hiscox under fire from photographers for 'intolerable' BI claims delays
Photographers have criticised Hiscox for the way in which the insurer has handled lockdown-related business interruption claims, with the head of a professional association calling the continued delay of settlements "intolerable".
Antoine Gosset-Grainville to succeed Denis Duverne as Axa chairman
Antoine Gosset-Grainville will take over as Axa chairman when Denis Duverne retires in April 2022.
Intelligence: Insurtech incubation during Covid-19
Covid-19 continues to wreak “profound damage” on the UK economy, according to Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, but the country’s insurtech sector is staying strong and remains a much-needed beacon of hope
Hiscox promotes Isha Patel to head of direct commercial in UK
Hiscox has appointed its area director for the South, Isha Patel, as head of direct commercial in the UK.
For the record: Wilson’s insurtech Abacai acquires Dayinsure; 250 job losses at BGL; GRS recruits Advanta team; and Howden acquires STA Group
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week not covered elsewhere on www.postonline.co.uk
Direct Insurance Group makes COO Tom Downs multi-million pound IT investment leader
Direct Insurance has named group chief operating officer Tom Downs as the leader of a multi-million pound investment in operations and IT to widen its digital capabilities.
Fully Comp 15: Insurance Internships and graduate programmes - keeping up in the race for new talent
For the fifteenth episode of Post’s video series Fully Comp, we gathered together a panel to discuss insurance internships and graduate programmes.
CII boss Sian Fisher addresses local institute concerns over grant scheme aimed at tackling seven figure deficit
Exclusive: The Chartered Insurance Institute’s 2020 deficit is no longer going to be of the “magnitude” of £7m, CEO Sian Fisher told Post as she addressed concerns around local institute grant schemes.
Insurer results directory 2020
Updated: Post tracks the 2020 insurer results season including gross written premium and combined operating ratio - detailing the impact of UK business interruption, weather, motor, home, non-business interruption Covid-19 claims, as well as mergers and…
Intelligence: Are insurers and insureds ready for 5G?
The UK’s four main mobile networks have all launched a 5G service and by 2022 the whole of the UK is expected to have access. 5G is touted to bring benefits across society – Post investigates what will it mean for insurers and their clients.
ERS raises $350m, confirms Kevin Kelley as non-exec chairman
ERS has completed a $350m (£252m) capital raise led by Boston based private equity firm Abry Partners, as it updated on its Bermuda ambitions and appointed Kevin Kelley as non-executive chairman.
Clear buys Luker Rowe and HIA International
Clear Group has bought Brokerbility members HIA International and Luker Rowe, Post can reveal.
QBE promotes Cécile Fresneau to run insurance division
Cécile Fresneau will take the helm of QBE European Operations’ insurance division, overseeing the business in Europe and international markets in addition to the UK, from the start of next month.
Q&A: Sharon Brown, Harbour Underwriting
Managing general agent Harbour Underwriting (formerly QLCC) last year launched after the event commercial dispute insurance to the broker market. Managing director Sharon Brown spoke to Post about what attracted her to the role and why she believes…
Survival drive risks businesses putting cyber cover on the back burner: Aviva research
The immediate Covid impact could see businesses pushing cyber cover down their list of priorities and brokers need to ensure clients understand how risks interconnect, Aviva's commercial lines interim managing director cautioned as the insurer debuted…
Big four brokers post organic growth during pandemic hit 2020
The 2020 results from Aon, Gallagher, Marsh and Willis Towers Watson showed the big four still delivering global organic growth despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, though in some cases figures for Europe, the Middle East and Africa units showed…
Covéa’s Graeme Howard on the need for innovation to drive a fundamental market shift
Graeme Howard, chief technology and information officer at Covéa Insurance, shares the three key ingredients of systems, agility and trust culture to succeed in innovating on a transformative scale.
Liberty Specialty Markets adds Marleen Lemmens as European COO
Liberty Specialty Markets has named Marleen Lemmens as European chief operating officer joining from Aon Netherlands.