London News

Willis Consolidates, US, UK Group Mining Practice

Willis Group Holdings announced that it has incorporated its US, UK and International hubs of mining expertise into one worldwide group practice, which will report to Steve Hearn, London-based Chairman of Global Markets International (GMI). The new group will bring …

Lloyd’s to Restructure Claims Management Procedures

Tom Bolt, Lloyd’s Underwriting Performance Director, outlined plans in a speech last week to reorganize Lloyd’s claims handling procedures. He received immediate, and no doubt expected, support from Lloyd’s CEO Richard Ward. In an open letter to “all Managing Agents,” …

Best’s London Briefing Highlights Challenges for Europe’s Insurers

“2011 will be another challenging year,” said Roger Sellek, the CEO of A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited, at the rating agency’s annual review of the state of Europe’s insurance industry. Speaking to an attentive audience at the Grange …

Connecticut High School Ex-Sprinter Settles $325K Suit Against Town

A former student at East Lyme High School in Connecticut who needed emergency brain surgery after crashing into a cement wall during indoor track practice has settled a lawsuit against the town for $325,000. Nicholas Furlani sued the town, the …

Lloyd’s McGovern Works to Expand No. American Business; Part II

Sean McGovern now heads Lloyd’s operations in the U.S. and Canada – the first and third largest sources of business for its underwriters. Lloyd’s not only wants to hold on to that business, but also to increase it. “We’re in …

Business Moves

Western National, Arizona Auto, Legacy Western National Insurance Group (WNIG) of Edina, Minn., signed an agreement for the purchase of 100 percent of the stock of Arizona Auto Insurance Co. and Legacy Insurance Services, both headquartered in Phoenix. The purchase …

People

Insurance broker Marsh has added five industry veterans – four from competing broker Aon – to its private equity and mergers and acquisitions practice. James O’Brien, Jason Hawkins and Craig Warnke join Marsh as managing directors, and Jim Beatty and …

Oil Firms Eye New Insurance Fund

U.S. oil explorers are talking about forming a new insurance fund that would cover the costs of any future oil spill in order to avoid a scenario where smaller companies are unable to drill offshore. BP’s oil spill is expected …

U.S. Firms Plan New Oil Spill Insurance Fund

U.S. oil explorers are talking about forming a new insurance fund that would cover the costs of any future oil spill, to avoid a scenario where smaller companies are unable to drill offshore, an industry executive said. BP’s oil spill …

Business Moves

IMS, London American Risk Specialists IMS Insurance Market Solutions acquired Houston-based London American Risk Specialists Inc. effective Sept. 1, 2010. The combined entity will become IMS/London American and will be one of the largest independent multi-line managing general agencies in …