Aon has published its 18th annual Political Risk Map, which measures the political risk of 211 countries and territories based on risks such as currency inconvertibility; strikes, riots and civil commotion; war; sovereign non-payment; political interference; supply chain disruption and legal and regulatory risk. Counties are ranked on a six-point scale and 19 have been [...]
JLT Specialty and Intelligent Real Estate Due Diligence (iREDD) have teamed up to jointly promote and exploit new business opportunities in the UK real estate sector. iREDD is a recently established insurance brokerage which promises a “unique and fresh approach” to the use of insurance products to speed up and improve the conveyancing and property [...]
Callcredit Information Group has acquired The Trading Floor in a move that its says will allow the group to offer a comprehensive range of services from an “unparalleled” data pool. The Trading Floor, based in Sowerby Bridge, was established in 2005 and claims to have developed the largest multi-channel transactional database in the UK. The [...]
New research from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) suggest that thousands of UK motorists are putting their cover at risk and driving illegally by knowingly giving their insurer false information, or failing to disclose important facts such as motoring convictions. The number one temptation is for a parent to insure a vehicle in their [...]
Friends Provident International has appointed Irvine Baxter to the role of UK regional sales director, reporting to Bob Pain, international sales director. Mr Baxter has over 25 years of experience in the life and pensions business, most recently at AXA Wealth International, where he led the offshore team and product development, apparently contributing to a [...]
Friends Provident is relocating its head office to the One New Change development in the City of London, moving from nearby Wood Street. The location will apparently provide a “fitting home” for the enlarged Friends, following the acquisition of the majority of AXA’s UK life business by parent company, Resolution Ltd, in September. The change, [...]
Catlin Group has acquired Blue Ridge Insurance Company from Australian insurer, QBE. Blue Ridge is a Wisconsin-domiciled admitted insurer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Casualty Company of Wisconsin (GCW). Under the terms of the agreement, all business previously written by the firm will be retained by QBE and all existing liabilities are being reinsured [...]
Global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings has announced the appointment of Paul Holmes to the post of managing director of Al Futtaim Willis Middle East. Holmes, whose appointment is effective from 9 February, is to be based in Dubai and will be directly responsible to Scott Pickering, CEO, Willis Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East [...]
Business insurer, QBE, has announced the appointment of Donna Claydon as head of UK casualty claims, reporting directly to European operations claims director, Andrew McBride. Ms Claydon joined the firm on 4th January, having previously spent 15 years with AXA where she held a variety of roles, from claims unit manager to head of travel, [...]
Two Higos Insurance Services employees have been awarded the Advanced Diploma in Insurance, with the achievement confirming their Chartered Insurance status. Kate Reilly and Sarah Neale are the first staff to gain this level of qualification whilst working for the intermediary, which according to Higos reflects its commitment to investing in the professional training and [...]
QBE has made three new appointments within its trade credit team. Kathryn Forde joins as commercial underwriter for the North of England, and Floyd Woolley as underwriting assistant, moving from the group’s general insurance side. Ms Forde has most recently been working in the recruitment sector, but previously spent a number of years at Euler [...]
Willis has announced that one of its captive management operations, Willis Management (Guernsey) Limited, has become the first insurance management company to have been awarded the “Chartered Insurers” title of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Firms that receive the award have to demonstrate rigorous standards of professionalism and capability, and are committed to the CII’s [...]
Insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh has announced the appointment of Tim Blakey as the regional head of its Aviation Practice in Asia. Blakey, who assumes his post with immediate effect, will also become part of the recently established Asia Aviation Executive team. Executive Managing Director Steve Lloyd is to chair the team, which includes [...]
Specialist independent insurance and reinsurance broker Miller has announced that it has appointed Robert Michael to bolsters its trade credit capabilities. Michael brings wide-ranging expertise in trade credit risks to Miller, and during his 17 year career has worked for a number of global companies across several sectors. He joins Miller from Marsh, where he [...]
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) are enhancing their level of co-operation and information sharing, having today signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on accounting and disclosure issues. The move should enable the regulators to improve their oversight of the audits of authorised firms, particularly as the FRC’s Audit Inspection [...]
Groupama Insurances has announced the appointment of Lynsey Mills as the firm’s new Commercial Motor Technical manager. Mills leaves behind her previous role of senior fleet underwriter to occupy her new position, and will report directly to Commercial Underwriting chief Dawn Dillaway. She will be based in the firm’s Manchester Operations Centre and collaborate closely [...]
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published a new Best Practice Guide for the Retirement Process, which sets out the principles pension providers need to follow, plus the key requirements they must meet, to help customers purchase the right annuity for their circumstances. According to the ABI, the guide makes it clear that providers [...]
The National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) is preparing for the launch of a Diploma in Investment Planning. “Experience Counts” is a work-based assessment that meets the full qualification requirements of the Financial Services Authority’s Retail Distribution Review proposals. Available from February, will be awarded by the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, which [...]
Ireland’s “Sunday Tribune” has named Zurich as the insurer most likely to acquire the failed Quinn Insurance. Quinn was placed in administration in March 2010, the Irish Financial Regulator having raised concerns about the group’s finances, given that its subsidiaries had made guarantees reducing the value of the company’s assets by €448 million. A joint [...]
