General Insurance newsletter Friday 29th May 2026

Insurance News

GI market priorities, growth drivers, and BIBA advice: Insights from six insurance leaders at BIBA 2026 - Check out this video to hear Kate Gregory, Mike Latham, Nicholas Hartley, Philip Thorn, Richard Brown, and Robert Corner share their perspectives on the changes brokers and MGAs can't afford to ignore, what separates growing firms from those standing still, the one piece of advice every insurance leader should hear before attending BIBA, and a bonus question worth watching through to the end for. (IDEX Consulting news, 'GI market priorities, growth drivers, and BIBA advice: Insights from six insurance leaders at BIBA 2026')
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')
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')
According to Julia Coakley, COO at the MGAA, technology and fresh capital are expanding the role of MGAs in specialty distribution, strengthening their position through specialist underwriting expertise, faster decision-making, enhanced data and digital capabilities, and more agile access to niche and complex markets. (Bryony Garlick, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Technology and capital expand MGA role in specialty distribution')
Aegon has agreed a new governance framework with its largest shareholder, Vereniging Aegon, to support its planned US relocation, including share structure simplification, US-aligned governance changes, and the creation of a new Dutch foundation to carry forward its charitable legacy. (Jonalyn Cueto, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, Aegon reaches shareholder deal ahead of US move)
Amiga Specialty has secured £25 million of A-rated Lloyd’s capacity with global licensing for its yachts division, giving the MGA a stronger platform to expand internationally across the US, Europe and Southeast Asia with a specialist underwriting proposition. (Josh Recamara, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Amiga Specialty secures Lloyd's capacity for global yachts push')
Marsh’s Global Transactional Risk Insurance Claims Report 2026 found W&I claims paid to clients reached nearly US$650 million in 2025, with financial statement breaches driving the most severe losses and UK notification volumes surging 150%. (Josh Recamara, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'W&I claims hit US$650 million as financial statement breaches drive severity surge')
UK brokers are still hiring at pace, but retention has become the bigger challenge as firms grapple with ageing talent pools, weaker junior pipelines, rising salary pressure and growing demand for digital skills, making professional development increasingly critical to long-term workforce stability. (Josh Recamara, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, Brokers are still hiring but the real battle is keeping staff: report)
Claud Bilbao, VP of underwriting and distribution for UK and Australia at Cowbell, said cyber risk is increasingly being viewed as an operational and financial threat rather than just an IT issue, as business interruption, supply chain vulnerabilities, and ransomware push businesses and insurers to focus more heavily on resilience, recovery, and continuity planning. (Bryony Garlick, 26/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Cyber risk is becoming an operational threat rather than an IT problem')
Guidewire’s 2026 European Insurance Consumer Survey suggests insurer AI adoption is outpacing consumer trust, with more than a quarter of customers saying nothing would increase their confidence and many still prioritising human review, transparency and oversight in AI-driven decisions. (Rod Bolivar, 26/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'One in four consumers unconvinced by insurers' use of AI - survey')

SiriusPoint’s Nestor Lopez said the reinsurer’s transformation is centred on modernising bordereaux management, building a stronger enterprise data foundation and applying AI with clear governance to improve underwriting, operational efficiency and profitable growth. (Susan Essex, 28/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'How SiriusPoint’s Nestor Lopez is re-wiring reinsurance for the data and AI age')
Coversure has opened a new office in Watford, its sixth this year, with industry veteran Nabeela Qureshi leading the team as the network continues to expand on the back of record growth and rising demand for community-based broking support. (Jonalyn Cueto, 27/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Coversure opens Watford office, its sixth this year')
Insurance leaders including Pen Underwriting’s Tom Downey said market access alone is no longer enough for MGAs, with long-term success increasingly defined by underwriting expertise, data quality, operational discipline and strong capacity relationships. (Bryony Garlick, 27/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Market access is no longer enough for MGAs')

Mergers and Acquisitions

Howden Ireland has agreed to acquire Dublin-based Opes Wealth Trust, its second deal of 2026, as it expands its financial advisory platform and adds retirement and investment planning expertise for self-employed, business owner and private clients, subject to regulatory approval. (Josh Recamara, 29/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Howden Ireland snaps up Dublin wealth firm in second acquisition of 2026')
DB Insurance is set to take control of Fortegra in a $1.65 billion cash acquisition, with the deal entering its final stage ahead of an expected close on May 29. (Rob Bolivar, 26/5/2026, Insurance Business, '$1.65 billion Fortegra deal edges closer')
Adler Fairways has acquired the insurance broking arm of W B Baxter, with CEO Anthony Adler describing the deal as a strategic and cultural fit that expands the group’s regional presence while preserving the brokerage’s long-standing client relationships. (Jonalyn Cueto, 26/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Adler Fairways acquires W B Baxter broking arm')
Insurance-focused legal firm HF has acquired around 40 staff from Rosling King LLP following the firm’s administration, adding dispute resolution, insolvency, and real estate expertise while preserving continuity for clients and employees. (Jonalyn Cueto, 27/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'HF acquires Rosling King team')

Moves

FurtherAI has appointed Tom Bradley to lead its UK and EU Operations, ORX has named Giulio Mignola as Board Chair, and Britannia P&I Club has promoted Helen Todd to Chief Underwriting Officer while moving Simon Williams into the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer as each business sharpens its leadership for growth, risk management, and AI-driven market change. (Josh Recamara, 29/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: ORX, FurtherAI and Britannia P&I Club')
Aon plc has appointed Hoffman as global CEO of Commercial Risk, effective June 1, 2026, where he will lead the global commercial risk business, report to Joe Peiser, and bring more than 25 years of insurance and financial services experience gained across senior leadership roles at Aon and Chubb. (Jonalyn Cueto, 27/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Aon, Previsico, and Rokstone Agriculture')
London-based flood forecasting insurtech Previsico has appointed Trumper as CEO to lead its next phase of growth, bringing experience from his five-year tenure as Managing Director at Axco Insurance Information to support operational scale-up in the UK and international expansion, particularly in the US. (Jonalyn Cueto, 27/5/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Aon, Previsico, and Rokstone Agriculture')
Rokstone Agriculture Farm and Ranch has appointed Rusnak as Senior Underwriter, adding more than 15 years of experience across underwriting, operations, product development and compliance as the division builds on record growth in 2026. (Jonalyn Cueto, 27/6/2026, Insurance Business, 'Insurance moves: Aon, Previsico, and Rokstone Agriculture')