General Insurance newsletter Friday 15th May 2026

Insurance News

UK vs US general insurance market: Insights from John Tallarida of Costero Brokers - In this Q&A, John Tallarida co-founder and CEO of Costero Brokers, shares his perspective on the differences between the UK and US general insurance markets, highlighting Lloyd’s unique value, London’s concentration of talent, and the importance of direct relationships, cultural fit, and long-term strategy for brokers expanding internationally. (IDEX Consulting news, 'UK vs US general insurance market: Insights from John Tallarida of Costero Brokers')
Private Equity is changing. What it means for insurance and wealth businesses - With tougher market conditions, the focus has moved from financial engineering to operational growth. Strong leadership, governance, and scalability are now key, as consolidation accelerates and talent becomes critical for success. (IDEX Consulting news, 'Private Equity is changing. What it means for insurance and wealth businesses')
Benchmark your earnings with confidence - The IDEX Salary Calculator delivers reliable compensation data tailored specifically to General Insurance and Financial Services professionals. Instantly check your current pay against the latest market trends to ensure your compensation package truly reflects your expertise. (IDEX Consulting news, 'Benchmark your earnings with confidence')
Discover the true value of your firm - Built specifically for brokers, insurers, and MGAs, our complimentary valuation tool delivers a clear estimate in seconds. Simply enter your company profile, revenue, and profit details to receive the actionable data you need to drive your strategy forward with confidence. (IDEX Consulting news, 'Discover the true value of your firm')
BIBA backed the King’s Speech bills, urging the Enhancing Financial Services Bill to turn promised reforms into law and calling for the EU Partnership Bill to include financial services, with priorities including faster authorisations, ombudsman reform, lighter regulation, and better UK-EU market access. (Kenneth Araullo, 15/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'BIBA backs King's Speech bills, eyes regulatory overhaul')
Intact Insurance is rolling out its Risk Assist platform across all commercial policies as a built-in benefit, giving brokers and SMEs broader access to self-service tools, expert support, and risk management resources aimed at improving resilience and shifting conversations beyond price alone.(Josh Recamara, 15/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Intact rolls out Risk Assist platform across commercial book')
BIBA has revived its “Ben the Broker” campaign with a new emphasis on cyber risk, using a national awareness push and a new accredited cyber broker directory to help SMEs address the protection gap, with just 10% of UK businesses currently holding dedicated cyber insurance despite rising attack levels. (Kenneth Araullo, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, ‘Ben the Broker’ returns with cyber focus as BIBA targets SME gap')
Zurich opened 2026 with strong momentum, reporting 8% like-for-like P&C premium growth and an estimated 265% Swiss Solvency Test ratio, outperforming major European peers while benefiting from commercial lines strength, life protection growth and continued expansion ahead of its Beazley acquisition. (Kenneth Araullo, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Zurich tops European peers with 8% P&C growth, 265% capital ratio in Q1')
Allianz delivered a record start to 2026, with Q1 operating profit rising 6.6% to €4.5 billion, supported by strong performance in P&C and asset management, a 221% Solvency II ratio and earnings momentum that puts it ahead of pace on its current three-year strategy. (Kenneth Araullo, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Allianz storms into 2026 as P&C arm powers blockbuster quarter')
New KYND research suggests SME cyber underinsurance remains a major opportunity for carriers, with many smaller businesses lacking basic protections such as email authentication and patching, leaving insurers room to combine cyber cover with data-led risk insight, simpler underwriting and proactive resilience support. (Josh Recamara, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'SME cyber gaps expose underinsurance opportunity for carriers: KYND')
Bspoke Group and SchemeServe have launched a white-labelled “Delegated Authority in a Box” proposition, designed to help brokers launch and digitally trade their own branded schemes more quickly and with less cost or complexity, while providing access to specialist products, A-rated capacity and embedded governance support. (Josh Recamara, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Bspoke and SchemeServe unveil ‘delegated authority in a box’)
Antares Global has launched Scorpius MGA, a new platform led by Ian Morris that centralises capacity, governance and shared services to support MGA partners, while using a flexible multi-capacity model to broaden distribution and help specialist underwriters focus more on risk selection than operational setup. (Kenneth Araullo, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Antares Global launches Scorpius MGA platform under Ian Morris')
Brit Group has launched its cyber proposition on Acturis to expand access for brokers and support SME growth, giving its partners a simpler route to place products such as C360 while widening distribution through a platform used by more than 30,000 brokers. (Kenneth Araullo, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Brit Group launches on Acturis to widen SME cyber reach')

Coversure and Jensten Network are seeing rising demand from a new generation of independent broker owners, with growth coming from both start-up brokers and established firms looking for greater operational support, flexibility and long-term sustainability, while rising enquiries from female insurance entrepreneurs point to a broader shift in who is entering and shaping the independent broking market. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Coversure and Jensten Network tap new generation of independent broker owners')
Cyber risk has become the top concern for UK boards for the first time, according to Marsh, with 46% of business leaders ranking it above economic, regulatory and people-related risks as firms face growing exposure to operational disruption, supply chain vulnerabilities and reputational harm, driving a broader shift toward integrated cyber resilience and stronger demand for cyber insurance capacity. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Cyber risk overtakes economic worries as top concern for UK boards - Marsh')
Fidelis Insurance Holdings has completed its rebrand to Pelagos Insurance Capital, a move the specialty re/insurer says reflects its evolution as a connector of capital and risk, with the transition following stronger 2025 underwriting and investment performance while leaving its operations, regulatory permissions and client relationships unchanged. (Kenneth Araullo, 11/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Fidelis completes rebrand to Pelagos Insurance Capital')

Mergers and Acquisitions

Gallagher Bassett has acquired London-based marine law boutique Mays Brown, strengthening its marine claims and legal capabilities as part of a broader specialist expansion across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with the deal adding niche maritime expertise serving shipowners, insurers, P&I clubs and other marine-sector clients. (Kenneth Aruallo, 11/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Gallagher Bassett acquires London marine boutique Mays Brown')

Moves

AIG appointed Thomas Stoddard as an Independent Director effective June 1, coinciding with Eric Andersen’s takeover as CEO, with the veteran financier bringing 35+ years of experience across insurance, asset management, and investment banking, including senior roles at Bank of America, Aviva, Athora, Blackstone, and Prudential Financial.(Kenneth Araullo, 15/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'AIG adds veteran financier to board ahead of CEO switch')
Gallagher has appointed Charles Amblard as Senior Adviser within the EMEA arm of its Private Equity and M&A practice, where he will focus on developing new client relationships and expanding the firm’s presence across Europe’s private equity and M&A communities, bringing experience from senior roles at Marsh and Aon. (Josh Recamara, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Miller and Nexus')
In further news...Gallagher has appointed Ana Matarranz as CEO for Spain, where she will lead the company’s growth strategy through organic development and the integration of specialist capabilities, bringing 20 years of experience and previous senior leadership roles at WTW, Howden, MAPFRE and Caser-Helvetia. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Premium Credit, Zurich UK, DAC, Arch and Ascend')
Miller has appointed Lyndsey Bauer as Strategic Delivery Lead, cyber, in a newly created role focused on developing a more cohesive approach to cyber risk across insurance portfolios, bringing experience from senior cyber leadership positions at Price Forbes and Paragon International Brokers. (Josh Recamara, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Miller and Nexus')
Nexus Underwriting Limited has appointed Chris Bailey as Head of Regional Underwriting Development – financial lines, where he will support the firm’s continued expansion by developing a management liability proposition alongside its professional indemnity and financial institutions specialisms, bringing more than 25 years of experience and previous senior roles at AXA, AXA XL, Chubb, AIG, Travelers and RSA. (Josh Recamara, 13/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Miller and Nexus')
Zurich UK has appointed Andy King as Head of Regional Market for the North, where he will lead a broker-led, tailored engagement strategy, bringing nearly 16 years of experience at Zurich across strategic execution, operational delivery and broker engagement. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Premium Credit, Zurich UK, DAC, Arch and Ascend')
Arch Insurance UK regional division has appointed Dean King as Kings Hill Branch Manager, where he will oversee day-to-day operations, manage broker distribution and support growth across Kent and Surrey, bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience and previous roles at Arch, Jensten Group, Unicorn Underwriting Limited and LV=. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Premium Credit, Zurich UK, DAC, Arch and Ascend')
Ascend Insurance Holdings has appointed Roger Brown as Group Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, where he will lead the group’s M&A programme by sourcing, structuring and executing deals to help build its national platform of high-quality independent commercial lines brokers, while supporting partner businesses’ long-term growth and preserving their culture and client focus. (Josh Recamara, 12/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Gallagher, Premium Credit, Zurich UK, DAC, Arch and Ascend')
Allianz Commercial has appointed Karol Dobias as Global Head of Multinational for Allianz Commercial and AGCS, effective June 1, 2026, where he will lead the next phase of the multinational strategy by driving client-centric solutions, supporting growth through specialist expertise, rolling out technology globally and scaling the Multinational Excellence Centre in Madrid, drawing on more than two decades of experience across Allianz’s international business. (Josh Recamara, 11/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Allianz Commercial, Temple Legal, Ventis and Fortegra')
Real estate MGA Ventis has appointed Peter Mitchell as Business Development Underwriter in a newly created London-based role designed to support its expansion in the mid-market commercial and residential property segment, where he will lead new business development across a panel of brokers and help strengthen relationships, bringing more than a decade of underwriting and insurance data experience to support the firm’s digital trading and tech-enabled underwriting ambitions. (Josh Recamara, 11/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Allianz Commercial, Temple Legal, Ventis and Fortegra')
Fortegra Group has appointed Iwan Röpcke as Chief Executive Officer for Belgium, a move aimed at strengthening its presence across the Benelux region, with Röpcke bringing more than 25 years of insurance experience across broking, commercial leadership and executive management, including senior roles at Lloyd’s Insurance Company, Willis Towers Watson, AXA Assistance, AIG, Aon and Marsh. (Josh Recamara, 11/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Allianz Commercial, Temple Legal, Ventis and Fortegra')