Insurance Times looks at highlights from Q3 2023 in its review of the year
As we approach the new year, Insurance Times takes a look back at some of the biggest stories that occurred during each month in 2023.
In Q3 2023, highlights include Adam Winslow being appointed as the new chief executive of Direct Line Group (DLG), RSA agreeing a deal with DLG to acquire the business’ brokered commercial lines operations and Zurich UK announcing plans to refocus its personal lines home and motor business.
You can see what happened over July, August and September below:
July
In July, Zurich UK announced plans to refocus its personal lines home and motor business to concentrate on the high-net-worth (HNW) market, alongside its managing general agent (MGA) and partnership channels.
The insurer said it had “reviewed its mass market home and motor strategy to simplify routes to market and focus on the areas where there are greater opportunities to grow”.
David Nichols, head of retail at Zurich, said the move came with the UK personal lines market continuing to be “intensely competitive”.
Read: Zurich UK floats withdrawal from home and motor broker distribution
Meanwhile, the month also saw motorcycle broker MCE Insurance Limited go into administration.
The FCA revealed that Mark Holborow, Vincent Green and Steven Edwards of Crowe UK were the joint administrators after being appointed by MCE’s directors.
Read: FCA reveals MCE Insurance administrators
And also during the month, Aviva announced a reshuffle of its commercial lines leadership teams.
As part of the reshuffle, Michelle Taylor was named as the new strategic accounts director, which she will start in January 2024.
Taylor will join from Zurich, where she was most recently UK head of retail sales and distribution.
Read: Aviva announces new hires in commercial lines and distribution reshuffle
August
In August, DLG confirmed that Aviva’s Adam Winslow will become its new top boss in 2024.
DLG said that Winslow is expected to take up the position in Q1 2024.
He will succeed acting chief executive Jon Greenwood, who will remain in the role until Winslow joins.
“DLG is one of the UK’s leading insurers with some of the most recognisable brands in the retail and commercial market,” Winslow said.
Read: Direct Line Group appoints Aviva’s Winslow as new chief executive
Meanwhile, it was revealed that three cofounders at motor insurance insurtech Abacai, including former Aviva Group chief executive Mark Wilson, had resigned as directors.
Abacai was created in 2021 after merging with Complete Cover Group (CCG), an insurance distribution and underwriting business.
According to a filing on Companies House, Wilson, along with James John Hay and Colin Neil Price, resigned on 14 July 2023.
Read: Former Aviva Group chief executive Wilson resigns as Abacai director
And also during the month, concerns were raised about underwriter attendance at Lloyd’s of London.
Lloyd’s closed its underwriting room for refurbishment at the beginning of July until mid-September this year.
Prior to the closure at the start of July, the London and International Insurance Brokers Association (Liiba) claimed in a report that underwriters had reduced their time at the box to only Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
As the room reopened, chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown promised that changes made will not see ”humans giving way to robots”.
Read: Lloyd’s market ‘very much at risk’ from lessened underwriter attendance
September
In September, RSA Insurance and owner Intact Financial Corporation agreed a deal with DLG to acquire the business’ brokered commercial lines operations.
RSA said the transaction would see it become the UK’s third largest commercial lines insurer with an estimated 7% of total market share.
Prior to this deal being agreed, RSA said it was the sixth largest commercial lines insurer in the UK market.
Read: RSA agrees ‘transformative’ deal to acquire DLG’s commercial lines operations
Meanwhile, Ardonagh revealed that it had sold its personal lines broking business Atlanta Group to Markerstudy.
The deal will see Markerstudy and Atlanta merge to create a “major new platform” in the personal lines market.
Read: Ardonagh’s £1.2bn personal lines broking business merges with Markerstudy
And also during the month, Aviva made two new appointments to its distribution leadership team.
A statement confirmed that Rebecca Gambrell would take up the newly created role of portfolio director in December this year, with Sharon Boobyer promoted to chief operating officer for SME and distribution, with effect from 1 October.
Read: Aviva announces duo of distribution leadership appointments
No comments yet