Gocompare.com has become the first UK comparison site to compare pet insurance policies. The service, launched this week, allows pet owners to compare up to 16 pet insurance policies, with more to be added in the near future. As well as comparing price, pet owners can compare the level of cover provided and the length [...]
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced that it has developed an industry-wide package of measures in conjunction with Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI) providers, which will result in consumers receiving refunds totalling around £60 million. According to the regulator, the industry has acted in response to its concerns over recent increases in premiums and [...]
Aviva is calling for a series of reforms to the UK pension system to make retirement saving “more flexible, relevant and attractive to savers”. The insurer says research has identified “widespread confusion” among Britons planning for retirement and it would therefore like to see the introduction of a flat-rate tax relief on pension contributions. In [...]
Ironshore Inc. has announced that it has launched a dedicated Life Science Practice Unit, and has appointed Linda McLaughlin to lead the new unit as a senior vice president. McLaughlin has held a number of senior positions within AIG for almost 20 years, and was most recently VP of Lexington’s Products Liability Division with the [...]
MMA Insurance, the broker insurer, has announced the appointment of Andrew Wooster as operational claims director. The hire has been made with the intention of enhancing the firm’s claims proposition. He joined the firm 16 years ago and has held positions in finance, operational management, customer services and claims. Wooster will be directly responsible to [...]
Aviva has announced that it is bringing together its UK life and general insurance businesses under the leadership of Mark Hodges, who has been appointed chief executive officer UK, effective from 1st January 2010. The insurer says both units have been reshaped under the leadership of Mark Hodges and Igal Mayer (respectively) over the past [...]
Direct Group is following up its success of its new Validate fraud-screening product for travel claims by widening the scope of Validate’s utility into Protection claims. Over the last 12 months Accident, Sickness and Unemployment claims have seen savngs of £2,800 per claim (on average) thanks to Validate. Direct Group Investigation Services (DGIS) has also, [...]
Independent insurance broker Heath Lambert’s transport sector team has undergone restructuring with the firm launching its transport specialism on the national stage. Transport Projects Director Mark Prowting’s departure from the firm has prompted the restructuring move. The firm’s rail business will be within the domain of the Projects Risk Division (PRG), which is responsible for [...]
Over one million British drivers have considered deliberately crashing their car to make a fraudulent insurance claim, research by moneysupermarket.com found this week. Of these, nearly 350,000 have successfully staged an accident. Male drivers and Londoners were the most likely to consider crashing for cash. Moneysupermarket.com slammed drivers who crash for cash as desperate and [...]
Risk and reinsurance specialist Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC has declared it is to acquire 100% of the issued shares in Rattner Mackenzie Limited (RML) from HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HCC). RML is a reinsurance broker based in London, responsible for the placement of HCC’s reinsurance programs in the London market. The move has been [...]
Searchlight, the insurance training and consultancy firm, has announced it has created a dedicated regulatory compliance support service. The new service will cater to the needs of SME insurers requiring adaptable outsourced compliance support service of a high quality available on a continuous or one-off basis. Searchlight director Peter Farmer is to lead the new [...]
Direct Group has completed a major debt refinancing which will enhance the firm’s market consolidation strategy with the extra funding now available. The firm has moved its banking relationship to Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets as part of the refinancing. Direct Group intends to use the facilities, provided by Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Acquisition Finance, to [...]
Young Marmalade, the specialist car insurer for the young, has commissioned research which reveals that 86% of learner drivers are being ripped off by insurers who charge excessively for adding them to pre-existing parental policies. Learner drivers who are 17 typically cost £2,000 at least and £50,000 (per year) at most to be added to [...]
Global specialty insurer Torus has announced that it has appointed Simon Urry as senior casualty underwriter. He joins the firm from Markel International where he headed up the Global Marine and Energy Liability account of the company’s Lloyd’s syndicate, and earlier in his career occupied positions with Aon Group Limited Energy and C.E Heath. Urry [...]
A new survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) indicates that there are signs of growth in the UK financial services sector, for the first time since September 2007. In a joint study with PricewaterhouseCoopers, 32% of firms questioned said that volumes had risen in the three months to early September, while 24% reported [...]
Specialist pet insurer Petpals Direct have announced they are offering a new pet insurance policy designed to cater to the needs of the UK’s estate agents and letting agents. TenantCare Cat and TenantCare Dog insurance provides coverage for damage caused by pets in rented accommodation, helping to resolve disagreement between tenant and landlord over whether [...]
International speciality property/casualty insurer and reinsurer Catlin Group Limited has opened a second office in Italy. The new underwriting office is located in Rome and will be staffed by a five-strong reinsurance underwriting team. Antonio Fiengo will lead the team as senior underwriter and branch manager, having joined the firm, like the other four staff [...]
Zurich Financial Services Group has announced the appointment of Scott Egan to the post of group head of Operations, Planning and Performance Management, effective from 5 October. He replaces Stephen Lewis, who has changed roles to become chief executive officer of UK General Insurance and Shared Services. Egan, who is the presently the chief financial [...]
Confused.com has announced that its range of home insurance providers has been enlarged, with the addition of Greenbee. Greenbee is exclusive to the price comparison website, and is part of the John Lewis Partnership. Commercial Manager John Cooper has expressed the firm’s delight at expanding the range of insurance providers with the addition of Greenbee. [...]
