In for a Penny: Direct Line promotes finance chief to top job February 26, 2019 Insurer Direct Line said today it had appointed its chief financial officer Penny James to succeed Paul Geddes as chief executive with effect from 9 May. James was appointed to Direct Line’s board in November 2017 and became finance boss in March. Previous roles include director of group finance at Prudential, group chief finance officer [...]
Jupiter finance chief Charlotte Jones moves to insurer RSA February 26, 2019 Jupiter Fund Management chief financial officer Charlotte Jones has been poached by FTSE 100 insurance group RSA. The fund management firm said Jones’ departure to join RSA in the same role after three years was “disappointing”. Read more: Ex-Janus Henderson boss to replace Jupiter Fund Management chief executive Jones, who already sits on the RSA [...]
Bronek Masojada: The Hiscox CEO who’s got the City covered February 25, 2019 Hiscox chief executive Bronek Masojada is no stranger to the City of London Corporation. Nearly 10 years ago, his insurance house sued the body over the demolition of a building near its office, which would later be cleared to make way for the “Helter Skelter” skyscraper at 22 Bishopsgate. Now, after pursuing the organisation from [...]
Swiss Re boosts profit 27 per cent in 2018 despite tough year for natural disasters February 21, 2019 Swiss Re boosted net profit 27.2 per cent in 2018, despite sustaining hits from natural and man-made disasters. The reinsurer reported net profit of $421m (£366m) compared with $331m a year previously, despite 2018 being the fourth-costliest year on record for the insurance industry. However, its profit is 37 per cent behind consensus, according to figures [...]
A terrible year for deaths in 2018 could boost insurers’ balance sheets February 21, 2019 A grim year for deaths in 2018 could see insurers flush with cash as they release reserves earmarked for paying incomes to pensioners. According to analysts at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Capital Markets 2018, was “the worst year for deaths this millennium” with a prediction that the soon-to-be-published mortality tables used by UK insurers [...]
Profit at insurer Axa plunges 66 per cent on write downs and natural catastrophes February 21, 2019 Net profit at French insurer Axa plunged by two thirds last year which it blamed on charges related to its US arm’s initial public offering and a rash of natural disasters. Net profit plunged 66 per cent from €6.2bn to €2.1bn for the year ended 31 December. This was influenced by a €3bn write-down on [...]
Watchdog gives insurance brokers clean bill of health on competition worries February 20, 2019 Regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today said it had not found evidence of significant levels of harm in its probe into insurance brokers, meaning that “intrusive remedies” will not be necessary. The FCA launched its analysis of the wholesale insurance brokers market in November 2017 to assess how competition was working in the sector. It said that [...]
Lancashire Holdings braves fire and wind to deliver strong result February 14, 2019 Shares in Lancashire Holdings were up nearly five per cent today on strong financial results, despite a natural disaster-triggered fourth quarter loss. The Ftse 250 insurer boosted profit before tax to £33.6m, compared to a loss of £72.9m the previous year, and increased gross written premiums eight per cent to £638.5m, up from £591.6m the previous [...]
Law helping businesses receive insurance payouts after terror attacks passed February 12, 2019 Companies will be able to more easily buy insurance for business interruption in the case of terrorist attacks following the passing of a new law today. The passing of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, which received Royal Assent today, followed an outcry in the aftermath of the London Bridge attacks where businesses [...]
Breakdown group AA boosts full-year profit expectations February 12, 2019 Breakdown cover group AA today raised expectations for its full-year profit after retaining or extending its key business contracts. In a trading update AA said it expects its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) would be not less than £340m, having previously said it expected profit to be in the range of £335m [...]