Weblog

This year has thrown up some absolutely massive stories, and the majority of them were read first on insurancetimes.co.uk.

Online subscribers have been treated to a flowing stream of daily breaking news, and visitors continue to flock to the site in their thousands.

As previously promised here in Weblog, I can now reveal the top ten most popular stories on insurancetimes.co.uk in 2009, and it’s certainly been worth the wait.

I mentioned last month how our exclusive story ‘Towergate shuts BNIB’ was a contender to fill one of the top ten spaces, and it certainly didn’t disappoint – finishing in first place and blowing the chasing pack out of the water. You’ll notice that the much talked-about consolidator is also the focus of stories in ninth and tenth place.

Another recent development – also revealed on the site – detailed Marsh’s interest in HSBC Insurance Brokers, and finished as the second most popular story of the year.

In third place, and a blistering way to start the year, was the story ‘FSA fines Aon £5.25m’, reported back in January.

But it wasn’t just breaking news that made an impact on the site. Our photo specials have been a hit all year round, the most popular being the two-part Biba ’09 photo special.

Also entertaining and informing visitors to the site were our regular blogs, analysis and ‘Five things you didn’t know about’.

Finally, don’t forget to keep up to date with Insurance Times Fantasy Football and take advantage of the busy festive schedule. See you in 2010 …

Top 10 online stories 2009

Towergate shuts BNIB

Staff in redundancy talks as brand scrapped and 13 of 16 offices close (12 November)

Marsh eyes HSBC Insurance Brokers

Acquisition-hungry giant linked to bank-owned broker (20 November)

FSA fines Aon £5.25m

Largest financial crime-related fine imposed by regulator (8 January)

Insurance Times Awards 2009 Finalists

Who’s on the shortlist (11 September)

Lawyer arrested at law firm McKeowns

Brian Barso suspended from company (20 March)

NIG to cut jobs in restructure

Eight regional offices to close (28 April)

FSA bans two brokers

Brothers banned for concealing criminal record from FSA (2 December)

HSBC Insurance ceases motor business

Motor arm put into run-off, 45 job losses at Norwich office (2 September)

Towergate acquires £10m GWP broker

25 staff transfer to consolidator (20 October)

Towergate chief reveals plan to lose up to one in 10 staff

Job cuts to be made across group to position for downturn, but acquisitions still considered (7 May)