Articles by Harry Curtis
Reinsurance outlook ranges from ‘stable’ to ‘deteriorating’
Rating agencies have shared their outlook for the global reinsurance sector, with both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Ratings revising down their outlooks for 2026, while S&P Global Ratings has maintained its ‘stable’ outlook.
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Big Interview: Andrew McMellin, Markel
Andrew McMellin, president of Markel International, sits down with Harry Curtis to talk about the insurer’s plans to hit $5bn premium by 2030, rebalance its portfolio, and how it’s using AI to turn the distribution chain on its head.
Sompo strikes £2.6bn deal to acquire Aspen
Sompo has agreed to acquire Aspen in a deal worth approximately $3.5bn (£2.6bn), with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Architects take first step towards mutual insurer
Architects have taken the first step towards setting up an insurance mutual with a new scheme to provide professional indemnity cover to small-to-medium-sized practices.
RSA calls on industry to act to avoid liability ‘landmine’
RSA has called on the wider insurance industry to help thousands of businesses ensure they don’t fall foul of new legislation and open themselves up to criminal liability.
Admiral launches branded body shop to master new vehicle tech
Admiral has put its name on a new repair centre in Manchester, which it says will be a testbed for trialling new technologies and processes.
Gallagher completes AssuredPartners acquisition
Gallagher has completed its acquisition of AssuredPartners, adding 1000 staff and more than 900,000 new clients to the business in the UK and Ireland.
Bspoke independence ‘set in stone’ after acquisition
NFP has committed to allowing Bspoke to run “completely independently”, having brought a long search for an MGA acquisition target to an end with the deal struck last week.
Admiral hits record £521m profit and boosts staff awards
Admiral’s profits have continued to soar, with pre-tax profits for its UK insurance business up 61% to £584m compared to midway point of last year.
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Beazley share price falls 12% after revised growth forecast
Beazley saw its share price fall by 12% today (13 August) after publishing half-year results that showed lower profits and included revised premium growth guidance.
RSA-to-Intact rebrand to kickstart with e-trade products
RSA is set to mark its imminent rebrand to Intact by rolling out five new e-trade products designed to bring together the best of the existing RSA and NIG product sets, according to commercial lines managing director Tovah Grosscurth.
Insurers and brokers agree to aid development of Ukrainian market
The Ukrainian government has revealed that it signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of several leading insurance companies during a conference in Rome last month, with the aim of developing the country’s insurance market.
Wedding venue’s Covid fight with RSA drags on
A Devon wedding venue’s dispute with its insurer RSA is still rumbling on more than five years after the first government Covid restrictions were put in place, and more than eight months after the complaint it lodged with the Financial Ombudsman Service…
Lancashire announces two CEO appointments
Lancashire has announced succession plans for the leadership of its Lloyd’s business and its Bermuda-domiciled insurance company.
Allianz close to partnering with two more household names
Allianz is closing in on partnerships with two major UK household names as it targets growth, following a half-year in which its top-line performance remained broadly flat year-on-year.
Lloyd’s appoints Hiscox veteran Flaquet as COO
Lloyd’s has appointed Stéphane Flaquet as chief operating officer, with the Hiscox veteran set to take up the position on 1 September subject to regulatory approval.
Pool Re pushes ahead with discount scheme for SME terrorism cover
Pool Re is seeking regulatory and government approval for a scheme to offer significantly discounted reinsurance rates for SME terrorism cover by April 2026, Post can reveal.
No Way Holmes: Allianz CEO mistaken for The Hulk
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have mistaken Allianz Holdings CEO Colm Holmes for Bruce Banner, the alter ego of the Incredible Hulk, after his likeness was spotted in photos taken on the set of the latest Spider-Man film.
MGA platform Launch closes in on UK debut
Managing general agent platform Launch Underwriters is closing in on getting its first UK MGA off the ground, Post can reveal.
Bridgehaven makes acquisition to unlock EU MGA market
Bridgehaven has acquired Dublin-based insurer SureStone Insurance DAC, which will serve as its launchpad into the European managing general agent market.
Allianz recruits from RSA for MGA-facing role
Allianz Commercial has recruited Daniel Head from RSA as head of delegated authority and portfolio solutions for UK global and international markets.
MS Amlin drafts Dart as CEO Carrier departs
MS Amlin has appointed former Brit chief underwriting officer Christiern Dart as its next CEO, succeeding Andrew Carrier.
Zurich growth not enough despite new business surge
Zurich saw new business for its UK regional business increase 20% in the first half of the year, but the insurer’s head of retail commercial Morgan Lyons believes it can boost that further, despite competitive market conditions.
Courtroom verdict could give policyholders larger Covid payouts
The High Court has ruled that policyholders with multiple premises are able to claim with separate limits of indemnity at each premises with regard to Covid business interruption claims.