Articles by Harry Curtis
R&Q co-founder Alan Quilter retires
R&Q has confirmed the retirement of co-founder Alan Quilter from the company’s board of directors and from the role of group head of program management.
Sedgwick sees strong demand for seconded claims handlers
Secondees from Sedgwick’s Resource Solutions division have racked up more than 4000 days working in insurer claims handling departments since its launch in November last year, director Adam Baylis has said.
Marsh predicts cyber rates will fall in H1 2024
Marsh expects to see the price of cyber insurance decrease over the first half of next year, noting that its clients have already seen rate decreases in 2023.
Allianz sees off university appeal over WW2 bomb damage
The University of Exeter has lost its appeal against Allianz’s application of a war exclusion to damage caused by a Second World War bomb that was detonated in 2021.
R&Q eyes growing legacy market as Onex sale vote approaches
R&Q has said it is in advanced talks for three deals that would boost its reserves under management by $100m.
State National eyes five programmes for first year in UK
Markel programme services subsidiary State National is aiming to have “four or five” programmes up and running by the end of its first year of trading in the UK, Markel International’s Simon Wilson has said.
Lloyd’s delays launch of Blueprint Two’s second phase
Lloyd’s and Velonetic have delayed the launch of the second phase of Blueprint Two until April 2025 – six months after the previous go-live date of October 2024.
Zurich warns of US-style litigation developments in Europe
Zurich has warned that, as a result of incoming EU regulation, Europe could soon become more of a litigation environment, akin to that which exists in the US.
Pool Re’s treaty reinsurance plans present SME cover opportunity
Proposals to make Pool Re a treaty reinsurer could lead to a greater proportion of UK SMEs taking out terrorism cover, senior industry figures have said.9
Lloyd’s D&O book expected to shrink
Directors’ and officers’ insurance is set to contract as a class of business at Lloyd’s next year, as the market keeps up its strong messaging on what it expects of underwriters.
Government to launch Martyn’s Law consultation after Christmas
The government will launch a consultation on proposed counterterrorism measures that smaller premises will have to take as soon as possible, according to a Home Office official.
Walsh and Newman to leave CFC following Lloyd’s investigation
David Walsh and Graeme Newman will leave CFC Underwriting in 2024 following a Lloyd’s investigation into allegations of non-financial misconduct at the company.
Stonegate settles Covid BI dispute with MS Amlin, Liberty and Zurich
Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub group, has agreed a settlement with MS Amlin, Liberty Mutual and Zurich, bringing an end to a long-running legal dispute over Covid business interruption losses.
Pete Allchorne elected Foil president
Pete Allchorne, partner at DAC Beachcroft, has been elected president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers.
Allianz suing Revolut for £10.4m over axed travel insurance deal
Allianz is suing Revolut for £10.4m, alleging that the neobank breached its obligations under a deal it struck in 2021 for Allianz to provide travel insurance to Revolut customers.
Sabre chair Andy Pomfret passes away
Sabre has announced that its chairman and McGill and Partners director, Andy Pomfret, passed away at the weekend following an illness.
Professional indemnity insurers raise AI worries
Around two thirds of UK professional indemnity insurers believe the use of AI by professional services firms is increasing their risk of practice, according to a survey by Clyde & Co.
Insurers and Ukrainian government to split Black Sea shipping risks
Ukraine has struck a deal with Marsh and insurers at Lloyd’s to set up a public-private partnership providing cover for Black Sea grain shipments.
Standalone R&Q legacy business to target profitability by 2025
A “refocused” R&Q legacy insurance business will expect to deliver operating profitability by the end of 2025 if the proposed sale of the company’s programme management arm Accredited goes ahead.
Planned Lloyd’s investment venture scrapped at eleventh hour
Financials Acquisition Corp, which had planned to provide hundreds of millions of pounds of capacity to Lloyd’s syndicates as early as 2024, following a proposed merger, is now set to appoint liquidators.
Sedgwick appoints Neil Gibson as UK CEO
Sedgwick has promoted chief operating officer Neil Gibson to the position of UK CEO.
FSCS expects East West compensation costs to rise
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has said it expects payments to customers of failed structural defects insurer East West to rise in the next financial year.
Lloyd’s earmarks £52m following slavery ties research
Lloyd’s has launched a programme of initiatives to help Black and ethnically diverse people join and build careers in the market following independent research into its historic links to the transatlantic slave trade.
Insurers risk being ‘left behind’ if they don’t share data
Insurers that don’t share claims data with the wider market risk being “left behind”, LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ James Burton has told Insurance Post.