Start-ups
My best 11- Phil Bayles, Aviva
Aviva’s Phil Bayles selects his best XI for an insurance start-up. The director of brokers and key partners opts for a team made up almost entirely of broking stars, aided by Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier as a supporting forward.
Hastings targets young drivers with telematics policy
Hastings Direct is set to launch a telematics-based motor policy for young drivers.
Review of the year - Lloyd's & London Market: The costliest year ever?
The first half of 2011 saw an unprecedented number of catastrophic events, so how has Lloyd’s and the London market coped?
Oxygen to sell off remaining assets
Market commentators believe large employee expenses and lack of profits are behind the demise of seven-year old Oxygen Holdings.
Interview - Ann Haugh: Making the right decisions
UK CEO of Zurich Global Corporate Ann Haugh has never been averse to taking risks and reveals her determination to grow the business is as strong as it is strategic.
Sagicor withdrawal forced by First Central losses
Lloyd’s insurer Sagicor’s decision to quit both property treaty reinsurance and casualty treaty reinsurance was forced by huge losses incurred through its tie-up with Gibraltar-based motor insurer start-up First Central, Post understands.
Lloyd's & London market - Compliance burden: The cost of compliance
With the UK the most costly European country for regulation, could UK-domiciled Lloyd’s and London market brokers really become an endangered species?
My best 11: Alistair Steward, Questgates
Alistair Steward, director at loss adjusting company Questgates, names his Best XI for a potential start-up insurance company. Steward has chosen from the insurance elite, the celebrity world and the galaxy of football stars to select his dream team.
Interview – Pierre Lefèvre: A long time coming
As international division managing director for Groupama, the UK once again falls under the watchful eye of Pierre Lefèvre, after an earlier five-year stint as the country’s CEO. Almost a decade after their last interview, Lynn Rouse catches up with…
Tiger Risks becomes first US broker since 2003 to open in London
Tiger Risk Partners has announced the opening of a UK subsidiary headquartered in London.
Ex-Swiftcover CEO Blowers back with new online start-up
Online insurance broker Qmetric has been granted full Financial Services Authority approval and is said to be a “few weeks” away from adding three major insurers to the panel of its specialist consumer brand Policy Expert.
Ex-Swiftcover CEO Blowers back with new online start-up - Insurance News Now
Post senior reporter Amy Ellis outlines this week's major general insurance stories which include online insurance broker Qmetric has been granted full Financial Services Authority approval and is said to be a “few weeks” away from adding three major…
Charity insurance: Charitable status
Despite facing economic pressures, charities are being pushed into the spotlight as a natural fit to run services for the ‘Big Society’. Mark Ingram looks at developments in this sector.
Affinity: 'Sticky' challenge faced by affinity in bid to boost business
Insurers must "tap into partner loyalty" within affinity arrangements if they are to stay one step ahead of mounting outside pressures, according to Ageas' partnerships director Ian Wardle.
Technology in the international private medical insurance market
Tim Mutton looks at the role of technology in the international private medical insurance market.
Technology in the international private medical insurance market
Tim Mutton looks at the role of technology in the international private medical insurance market.
Interview - Peter Winslow: Best at building
Backed by an armoury of well-known brands, BGL CEO Peter Winslow tells Lynn Rouse about pan-European aggregation, acquisitions and why there is plenty of life in meerkats yet.
Interview - David Bott: In the Apil hotseat
With claimant lawyers facing radical change over the next year following the Jackson Review, David Bott has a turbulent introduction to his tenancy as the new Apil president. Leigh Jackson talks to the man whose job it is to steady the ship through these…
PSTF: Key to improved customer service held by technology chiefs
Chief information officers and chief technology officers are poised to become the real heroes in the drive to provide customers with the products and services they desire from insurers.
LV in second IFB senior staff swoop
LV's counter-fraud division is on target to be 100-strong by the year end, 10 times the size of the start-up team that launched four years ago.
Transatlantic to launch UK personal lines brand
Transatlantic Re is set to launch a new UK personal lines general insurance venture, as the US giant looks to capitalise on hardening premium rates in the motor market.
Editor's comment: Still after a piece of the motor market action
Despite the horrendous combined operating ratios and losses that have piled up in the UK personal lines motor market in recent years, it still holds a fascination for many.
Schemes: Scheming for success
Schemes business requires significant investment to make it work and underwriters are not prepared to tolerate poor profitability. But, as Jane Bernstein reports, the benefits are many and it remains attractive to brokers.
Penny Black's insurance week
Another year, another Biba conference; brokers nurse their hangovers, hacks try to recall the juicy story slurred in their ear at 2am, and insurers vow to return to the exhibition hall next year with a bigger stand than Aviva, nicer cup cakes than Zurich…