Schemes
MGA takes another Axa leader with CUO hire
Optio Group has appointed the former Axa director of schemes and delegated authorities Gary Head as chief underwriting officer, effective immediately.
Joel Markham to lead schemes at Axa as Head exits
Joel Markham has been promoted to Axa Commercial’s director of schemes, delegated authorities, financial lines and speciality, Insurance Age can reveal.
Commercial Express adds Irwell to panel of insurers
Managing general agent Commercial Express has partnered with Irwell Insurance which has joined its panel of insurers.
Review of the Year 2024: Axa UK’s Paul Tombs and Matt Field
The Axa UK duo of Paul Tombs and Matt Field reflect on award wins; the fall-out of the Markerstudy-Atlanta deal and the success of its partnership with Liverpool FC.
Axa Commercial boss Walker targets turnaround time for brokers
Axa Commercial is two thirds of the way through a technology transformation programme, and Commercial CEO Jon Walker is looking to shorten turnaround times in terms of risk appetite.
Ecclesiastical partners with Clear on local councils scheme
Ecclesiastical has teamed up with Clear Councils, part of Clear Group, adding the broker’s local councils insurance to its schemes book in an arrangement that will come in to force at the start of 2025.
Analysis: Placement strategies – are brokers turning the tables?
What is driving brokers’ decisions on which markets they use? While once it was insurers holding the aces, it now appears the boot is on the other foot, finds Rachel Gordon
Alan Boswell partners with Peach on teachers’ liability scheme
Alan Boswell Group has partnered with commercial insurer Peach to grow and enhance its teachers' liability scheme.
Anscombe, Thomas Carroll and Konsileo among the winners at UK Broker Awards 2024
Thomas Carroll Group scooped the Broker of the Year award, and Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe won the Achievement Award, at the UK Broker Awards last night in Birmingham.
Peach rebrand to come into effect at Broker Expo
Peach PI will rebrand as Peach at the UK Broker Expo, Insurance Age can reveal, with new messaging and a company logo to reflect its modern appetite.
Aviva signs capacity deal for Howden scheme
Aviva has agreed to a deal with Howden to provide capacity for the broker’s Bespoke Farm and Estate Scheme, Insurance Age can reveal.
IS2 promises supercharged commercial schemes distribution
IS2 has launched an API enabled hosted pricing solution, staking a claim for a commercial lines schemes first.
Peach Pi partners with Starpeak on micro/SME insurance
Starpeak, the specialist digital distributor of insurance to niche online markets, has partnered with commercial insurer Peach Pi to co-create products designed specifically for the micro and SME market.
The stats: Q2 2024 – Commercial combined and combined liability premiums fall for first time in three years
The smallest index movement since Q2 2021 suggests the commercial lines market is starting to become more competitive again, as Ida Axling reports.
Market Movement Index: Smaller insurers gain market share from re-broking
New research from Broker Insights shows brokers are placing more business with smaller players, resulting in a changing landscape where competition can thrive. Rachel Gordon reports.
Ardonagh Advisory buys R K Henshall
Ardonagh has acquired chartered insurance broker R K Henshall & Co based in Sandbach, Cheshire, subject to regulatory approval.
Interview: Tuplin on turning up the heat with Ardonagh
Richard Tuplin, CEO of Advisory Insurance Brokers at Ardonagh, shares his insights on leading the transformational change that is garnering praise from the sector and the non-negotiable culture that is bringing success.
Howden scores Allianz musical insurance book
Howden has agreed to acquire the musical insurance book of Allianz UK for an undisclosed sum with the provider staying on as the underwriter.
Jensten completes on three deals
Jensten has bought Asprey Harris and completed the purchases of Chris Knott Insurance Consultants and Robert Gerrard & Co in a triple swoop that has pushed headcount above 1,000.
Interview: Axa UK looks to leverage scale - Foley
Axa Commercial can now move “quicker and price more effectively” due to a new workbench system, which is “beneficial” to brokers and customers, according to Tara Foley, CEO of Axa UK and Ireland.
Broking Success: Fiercely independent
Paul Wadsworth, managing director of FR Ball, is looking to grow the business to £24m gross written premiums as it aims to offer soft landings for acquisitions.