News High Five: Catch up on the biggest stories this week

This week in Insurance Times, deputy editor James Cowen kicked us off with a piece covering the growth of live chat in eTrading, with reporting from the recent Insurance Times webinar that examined the results of the latest eTrading Report.

• More brokers favouring live chat over phone calls for eTrade queries

Editor Katie Scott then provided her report from an interview with Sarah Willoughby, art and private client director at specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, who told her how this part of the business is on an upwards growth trajectory.

• Sarah Willoughby: Ecclesiastical ‘on track’ to achieve art and private client growth target

Then, junior reporter Chantal Kapani investigated how the rising use of lithium-ion batteries is increasing fire risks, prompting potential policy changes within the insurance industry.

• Will the lithium-ion battery boom trigger an insurance bust?

Later in the week, deputy editor Yiannis Kotoulas spoke to Sabre Insurance chief executive Geoff Carter following the publication of the firm’s latest financial results.

• Geoff Carter: How scale, strategy and a ‘barbell approach’ to underwriting is keeping Sabre so profitable

Topping off the week, technology editor Clare Ruel also spoke to new firm founder Paul Howley about his journey from account executive to startup broker.

• Paul Howley: From account executive to startup broker