Reality TV shows, new appointments, indie music guitarists, and insurtech competitions, what has the insurance industry been up to of late? You heard it here first…
Huxley appointed insurance agency non-executive chairman
On 15 January 2024, Mark Huxley was appointed as non-executive chairman of new insurance agency BareRock, which was launched three months ago.
He joins the board to contribute his range of business know-how and improve its provision of professional indemnity insurance (PII).
BareRock aims to reimagine PII by creating a tailored offering for financial advisers and planners.
Huxley will strengthen the firm’s senior management team.
The Traitors
With £120k in prize money up for grabs among 22 strangers situated in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, Andrew Jenkins, commercial account executive at PG Insurance, took part as a contestant in the BBC’s reality TV series The Traitors, hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
A near death experience 23 years ago, which initailly saw him pronounced dead at the roadside, inspired Jenkins to take more risks in life and the show represents just one of those opportunities.
Bombay Bicycle Club
In mid-January, the Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC) announced its new technical committee following its online launch on 1 January 2024.
One such member of the technical committee is Jamie MacColl, guitarist for indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club. He has been playing guitar since he was a child but “only started taking it seriously when the band started”.
After four albums, Bombay Bicycle Club went on a hiatus in 2015 and, during that time, MacColl decided to go to university as it was an experience he “missed” while growing up because of the band.
Insurathon
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright invited insurtech startups to apply to its Insurathon competition in January 2024. Now in its seventh year, Insurathon supports startup and scaleup technology businesses pursuing technological innovation in the insurance industry.
Applicants who are selected as finalists will compete for a £50,000 prize – this includes £25,000 of free UK legal and regulatory advice from its lawyers within the law firm as well as a potential equity investment of £25,000.
The deadline for entries is 5 March 2024. This year’s finalists will be announced on 8 March and the final will take place on 15 March.
The Speculator
Amazon Insurance Store closed down just 15 months after launching in the UK market, it was revealed on 24 January 2024.
The e-commerce giant said it had come to the “difficult decision” to discontinue the store following a strategic review.
It will be providing guidance to customers who had taken out a policy about the next steps in due course. Customers who have purchased policies will not see any changes to coverage and claims in process at this time or future claims under the policy term.
Amazon said it would provide guidance to customers on any actions they need to take as a result of this change. But, what is next for the e-commerce giant in the insurance space?
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