Opinion
Leader: A tale of two acquisitions
Making an acquisition is never easy. There are due diligence reviews to be done to ensure a potential target business works in terms of overall strategy, and that there are no hidden surprises, while the most successful deals are founded on sound…
View from the Top: Emerging Indonesia
Clarence Wong, chief economist at Swiss Re Asia, shares his views on the potential for the insurance industry in Indonesia arguing there will be short term difficulties but the long term gains are worth it.
View from the Top: You can’t keep a good broker down
With the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference taking place this week it seems appropriate to consider the sheer resilience of the independent broking sector in the UK market.
View from the Top: The slow pace of regulation
Only consistent and uniform implementation across the entire continent will bring benefits.
Comment: Working towards a common goal
Schemes are only beneficial when insurers and brokers align their objectives and work together to achieve them, says Kevan Aubrey.
Editor's comment: Biba fever sweeps the market
There must be something in the water – or maybe it is #BIBAFever setting in. Whatever it is, after a quiet start to the year, broker deals have suddenly started to liven up the market now the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference is in our…
View from the Top: Harmonising ASEAN insurance regulation
Steven Dewhurst, a partner at DAC Beachcroft, asks why the ASEAN Economic Community is taking so much time to bring about intra-regional regulatory harmony.
View from the Top: The American invasion gathers speed
Private equity investment from the US into London Market brokers is seemingly in vogue in 2013, with a considerable amount of new capital entering the market.
View from the Top: A duty to the wider economy
Risk management expertise provides invaluable guidance to enterprising businesses, says Andrew Torrance.
Broking Supplement: Relationship Management - One for all...
The challenging economic environment means brokers and insurers need to take a mature and realistic approach if their relationships are to survive.
Penny speed meets... Ed Rochfort, product director, Carrot
Being an insatiable socialite, Penny Black is always eager to probe the personalities behind the professional veneer of her industry friends. What better way to squeeze in and share as many intimate revelations as possible than her very own ‘speed…
Editor's comment: A bit of common sense
Last week, the House of Lords turned back the clock 100 years on employer liabilities for breaches of health and safety duties and passed what has been referred to in its very chambers as an “ugly” part of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.
Ask the expert: Interview process
With competition for jobs so fierce, and the interview process becoming much more arduous, how do I make my application stand out from the crowd?
View from the Top: Heading in the wrong direction
The ABI’s plan to reform medical assessments is not the solution to the whiplash problem, says Andrew Pemberton.
View from the Top: Understanding risk is crucial
The volatile economy, supply chain interdependency and the voracious appetite of regulators and politicians mean today’s organisations face very different risks to their predecessors.
View from the Top: Desperate measures
Brokers are engaging in some unwise practices as they struggle to cope in the difficult climate, says Dave Smith.
Claims Club Asia: Finding the perfect approach
Ahead of the inaugural meeting on 23 May in Hong Kong of the Claims Club Asia, Willis's Neil Thomas, one of the Claims Club Asia advisory board members reflects on a recent claims resolution.
Risk Management: Adapt to survive
Professional buyers and the market that serves them have a shared interest in keeping corporate insurance relevant, yet changing circumstances are threatening its role and value.
Editor's comment: Industry image problem enduring
Insurers face an uphill battle in trying to improve their public image at the best of times, and the latest round of job cuts and news of redundancy term changes at insurance giant Aviva will do nothing to help their cause.
Asia View from the Top: Nurturing and attracting talent
Michael Duncan, specialty CEO of Asia and Middle East, RSA explains the extreme importance of managing the talent gap in Asia.
View From the Top: MGAs still have some growing up to do
Like many of my colleagues in the industry, my perception of managing general agents used to be narrow. However, in 2012, after a 25-year career with major global insurers including Zurich and AIG, I joined one.
View from the Top: Eco plans must pass litmus test
Environmentally friendly buildings can cut down on CO2 emissions but at what cost?
North of Border: Golf swing sees liability fall to club
On 10 August 2007 Anthony Phee was playing golf with three friends on the Niddry Castle course.
Career development: Giving praise is the key to boosting performance in the workplace
With Solvency II, rising strength in the aggregator market and twin peak regulators, the insurance market is awash with change and uncertainty.