Feature
IMDII: Full disclosure
The second Insurance Mediation Directive could fundamentally change the way European brokers conduct their business. But will it be kicked into the long grass? Edmund Tirbutt investigates.
In Series - Personal Lines: All change
As the applications of data sources increase and improve, it pays for personal lines insurers to learn how to adapt.
Loss adjusting: Keep it in the family
The role of the loss adjuster is changing, with insurers increasingly adopting an internal claims handling approach. But it is by no means the end of the specialist panel.
Consumer Insurance Act: Under the radar?
The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 will upend more than a century of the customer’s duty to disclose information to their insurer. Is the market prepared for this substantial change?
Cyber liability: Risks rising
Cyber attacks have become almost a daily occurrence in recent times. Whether it is on a company, a personal account or a sensitive government department, hackers have not spared a single target of importance writes Mukul Gupta.
The Thai flood: Two years on
The size and scale of the floods in Thailand in 2011 came as a shock to many despite the fact it was a flood prone area. Andrew Tjaardstra discovers how shock waves are still being felt and how risks are being reassessed.
Comment: Power struggle
CEOs and CIOs are often at loggerheads when it comes to investing in new software, but this must change, says Andrew Binns.
Kidnap & Ransom: Forewarned is Forearmed
With instances of kidnapping for ransom on the rise in certain parts of the world, it’s more important than ever for firms to ensure they have adequate cover.
Metal Theft: Copper and Robbers
New legislation promises to make life tougher than ever for scrap metal thieves and ease the demand on insurers – but why is the market unconvinced it will be effective?
Captives: Eastern promise
Chinese companies are mulling over the idea of captives as a risk management tool and it seems that the trend might spread to Eastern Europe. Anna Pitton investigates.
Gender Directive: Continental drift
The ban on gender as an insurance rating factor has made waves in the UK market but how has it impacted mainland Europe? Francesca Nyman investigates.
Claims: Front of house?
Representing the main touchpoint between insurers and customers, claims departments are of vital importance but have traditionally struggled to attract top-level staff. Is this now changing?
Improving Underwriting: Location is everything
Location-based information is the key to understanding the complex data underwriters need to analyse risk.
Credit Hire: Co-operation not combat
With concerns over credit hire at an all-time high after the collapse of Drive Assist, what is the future for credit hire organisations, and can they ever truly make peace with insurers?
D&O: Responding to regulation
A change in the criminal code in Spain has thrown up a host of challenges for the nation's D&O providers, Anne-Louise Fogtmann writes.
Where is the diversity?
Nicky Burridge investigates why Hong Kong's insurers and brokers are suffering from a lack of differentiation when it comes to product offerings.
Flood Risk: Pours for thought
The 2007 floods were a major UK weather event, costing the insurance industry billions. However, despite similarities, the 2012 floods caused much less damage. What is the reason behind the change?
Fraud: A war on all fronts
Fraud affects all lines of business and yet to date insurer focus on solving the problem has been on motor. Is it time for a shift in perception?
A new chapter for India
With new bancassurance rules for the Indian market expected in August, Neera Bhardwaj asks whether industry stakeholders can reach a consensus, and what the final guidelines are likely to look like.
Spanish construction: Unfinished business
The Spanish construction industry is in the doldrums with many building projects incomplete. How is this impacting the insurance industry? Edmund Tirbutt explains.
Russian Round-up: Motor woes
Why are Russian insurers angry about changes to motor insurance legislation? Paul Koshik explains.
International: Are you protected?
A pan-European data protection regulation may enhance transparency and accountability, but could inadvertently hamper insurance activities, harming companies and policyholders.
Improving Underwriting: A Smarter approach
Insurers can build a more sophisticated view of risk by embracing geographic intelligence data.
FSCS: Off the hook
Changes to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme ahead of the introduction of twin peak regulation have angered brokers, but should insurers be held more accountable?