Edward Murray

Agile Insurance Group has recruited David Hughes as head of marine and as deputy active underwriter of its Lloyd's syndicate – Agile Underwriting Services Syndicate AUS2427. He was formerly Axa XL's head of marine hull and war for the UK and Lloyd's.

The Ardonagh Group has secured an equity investment from US-based private equity firm Stone Point Capital LLC. The deal is forecast to complete in mid-2025 and will make Stone Point a significant investor in the business.

MoneySuperMarket has appointed intermediary Ceta Insurance to its home insurance panel. It will offer a non-standard product under its InsureMy brand aimed at the 20% of homes that fall outside of standard underwriting criteria.

Compare the Market has teamed up with price comparison technology partner i-Wonder to deliver the aggregator’s first bicycle insurance comparison service. The products available provide cover for a variety of bikes including road, mountain, BMXs, folding, gravel bikes and E-bikes.

Pen Underwriting has appointed Hannah Fry (pictured) as its chief operating officer. She will join the business on 6th January 2025, subject to regulatory approval. She was previously operations director for the SME and personal lines division of Gallagher and joined the group as part of its 2019 Stackhouse Poland acquisition.

Risk processing platform Cytora has struck a deal with catastrophe risk modelling and solutions company Moody's RMS. The arrangements gives underwriters using the platform access to insights into climate and natural disaster risk pertaining to more than 100 countries.

Re/insurance broker McGill and Partners has appointed Andre du Preez as head of emerging technology. He will have responsibility for furthering the firm's digital first approach and harnessing technology to enhance its client proposition. He joins from Miller where he was head of innovation.

Independent re/insurance broker BMS Group has acquired UK broker David Roberts & Partners. John Page, chief executive at DR&P and Simon Bland who serves as managing director, will continue in their roles. BMS said the deal expanded its presence in the UK, particularly in the retail sector and speciality London markets.

Direct Line Group has launched three motor products on Compare the Market. It said they would add these products to other price comparison websites during 2025. The move follows an announcement in July of this year Direct Line said it would expand its distribution channels to include online aggregators.

Aviva Plc has announced that it has reached an agreement with Direct Line Group on the terms of its recommended cash and share offer for the business. The deal values Direct Line at approximately £3.7bn.