Articles by Charles E. Boyle

Tardy Greek Debt Bailout Spreads Financial Crisis beyond Europe

Last weekend the leaders of the European Union finally realized that their dithering over a financial aid package for Greece had imperiled the entire continent’s financial structure. They acted to stem the tide by adopting – subject as usual to …

Irish Re/Insurance Market ‘Holding up’ Despite Financial Crisis, Says DIMA CEO

Ireland in general and Dublin in particular are in a financial crisis but the insurance and reinsurance sectors appear to be weathering the storm. In a recent interview, Sarah Goddard, CEO of the Dublin International Insurance Management Association (DIMA), said …

Irish Financial Woes Dominate Discussion, Country’s #2 Insurer Taken Over

The European Insurance Forum, held in Dublin Monday and Tuesday, was dominated by the fiscal crisis that has hit Ireland particularly hard. Although the country’s insurance industry remains a bright spot in an otherwise fairly bleak landscape, even it is …

Lloyd’s CEO Richard Ward on a Successful Four Years

When he succeeded Nick Prettejohn as Lloyd’s of London’s CEO in 2006, Richard Ward was not an experienced veteran of the insurance industry, but then neither was Prettejohn, a former senior management consultant at Bain & Co. Neither is Lord …

Growing Skepticism Ignores Climate Change Facts; Max Merges with Harbor Point; Terrorist Pirates Threaten the Malacca Strait

The Climate Change debate rolls on, but real decisions and effective actions remain elusive. Hardly a week goes by without a new report or study on the changes affecting the atmosphere, but the general public appears to be contracting “climate …

A Recurrence of Recalls; ‘PIGS’ in a Poke; Lloyd’s Powers on; Haiti Now Faces Floods and Hurricanes

First Toyota, then Honda – who’s next? 2010 is not starting out as a good year for car companies. Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. was already in the process of recalling approximately 8 million vehicles, due to problems with the accelerator …

Meteorology: It’s Not ‘Rocket Science;’ It’s a Lot More Complicated

Everyone’s heard the shibboleth “It’s not rocket science.” This implies that whatever “it” may be it’s easier than flying a rocket. In fact Robert Goddard fired off the first real rocket in 1926. Today rockets are an integral part of …

Aon Warns on Political, Financial Risks; Berkshire Bets a Billion on Munich Re; IPCC Defends Climate Change Report; Frau

Aon Risk Services 17th Political Risk Map highlights continued political and financial instability for global business in 2010, closely linked to the ongoing recession in many parts of the world. “Rising risk levels in 2009 have led to a significant …

Tragedy in Haiti; XL Moves to Ireland; NYC Exchange Doesn’t Worry London; WEF Prepares for Davos

The tragedy in Haiti is a reminder of how fragile life can be in developing countries.Despite the massive loss of life and widespread destruction in and around the capital Port-au-Prince, vital rescue efforts have been hampered by a lack of …

Negotiations Falter at UN’s Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change

The United Nations’ Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change strained mightily and produced — a note. Co-authored by the United States and China as a last minute face saver, only five nations signed it. This wasn’t much, to say the least, …