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Danny Walkinshaw looks at the latest insurance stories online

Obama-mania dominated the web this week and Insurance Times played its part with a look at how the new president’s policies might affect the insurance industry.

Our analysis, “The new world”, was also available at insurancetimes.co.uk with the rest of the news and features from last week.

Meanwhile, the insurance sector featured prominently in online business sections over the past week. News from FTadviser.com that Aon Benfield was to outsource a number of jobs from its back office was the most popular story of the week with users of insurancetimes.co.uk.

Payment protection insurance (PPI) has also been making headlines in recent months. The announcement that big banks are to stop selling single-premium PPI received extensive coverage online.

The continued speculation over the sale of Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance division was also popular with readers. This will-they-won’t-they saga is expected to reach a conclusion next month.

John Kitson’s interactive video blog continues to be a hit with online users. In his unique style, the Norwich Union sales and marketing director is tracking how the insurer is going about changing its name to Aviva.

Visitors to the website can also read a new blog on the challenges facing the independent broker. The first entry, by Peter Smits, is reproduced below.

Another new online feature, “Five things you didn’t know about …” is under way. First up is Julie Page, head of commercial at Marsh.

Online Top 5

Aon Benfield to outsource claims jobs
Major banks to stop selling single premium PPI
Nationalised RBS has to sell
John Kitson Blog
Davies to shut six offices in next three months

Five things you didn't know about...Julie Page

On her career options as a teenager...

I'm one of the only people I know who actually chose insurance for a career, most people seem to have found themselves in it, but don't know how they got there.

Her favourite book...

I'm a compulsive reader and have a voracious appetite for books. I love historic faction; history brought to life. If really pushed I would say Colleen McCullough's series of books on ancient Rome, are probably my favourite.

Her great escape...

My favourite place is St Ives in Cornwall and I have holidayed there every year for the past 10 years. We arrive by car and it stays parked until it is time to leave. The beaches are as good as anywhere else in the world, the restaurants are fab and I have come to think of St Ives as a second home.

On recommending her career choice to school-leavers...

I would absolutely recommend a job in insurance and risk management to a young person embarking on their career. We all have the odd bad day, but I don't think I have ever had more than that. You face each challenge or opportunity with a choice about how you wish to respond. If you make positive choices the opportunities keep coming.

Her guilty pleasure...

I am loathe to admit it, but my guilty pleasure is reality TV. I watch them all, with the exception of Big Brother. However, I do draw the line at voting!

Julie Page is head of commercial at Marsh.