Edward Murray

PIB Group Ltd has appointed Michael Hendricks (pictured) as chief commercial office in Europe. He will have responsibility for developing its international strategy and portfolio of businesses to replicate what the group offers in individual markets across Europe. He joins from Aon Germany where he has been for more than 20 years, most recently serving as managing director.

The Chartered Insurance Institute has recorded consumer satisfaction with insurance at 84% in Q4 2024, down from the 86% achieved a year earlier. It found that just 14% were extremely satisfied with insurance, the lowest level reported since the professional body started collecting the data in 2019.

Construction managing general agent Phoenix Specialty has named Andrew Charlton (pictured) as its new managing director. He joins from Consort Technical Underwriting Managers. He replaces Tim James, who becomes chief executive officer of Phoenix Global. The business said the moves reflected strategic investments made by Vector Investment Capital Holdings and Acies MGU.

The latest Confused Car Insurance Price Index in association with WTW has recorded a 16% fall in motor insurance premiums during the past year. The data identified this as the biggest yearly fall since 2014 and it followed a prolonged rise in premiums from 2021 to 2023.

Cycle insurance specialist Bikmo has agreed a partnership with premium cycling brands Santa Cruz and Cervélo. The deal affords new owners of Santa Cruz and Cervélo bikes access to Bikmo insurance that covers the bike as well as the rider’s gear and accessories.

Atrium Underwriters Limited has started a trial of Novee’s generative artificial intelligence underwriting tool, which automates the pre-underwriting of political violence and terrorism submissions. It helps underwriters flag out of appetite submissions and to identify good and bad risk indicators.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has published its manifesto for 2025, entitled ‘Partnering to deliver value’. It highlights the importance of collaboration to address the challenges faced by brokers and their clients and to achieve the government’s growth mission.

Research from Go.Compare has found that more than 90% of British people continue to struggle with finances due to the cost of living crisis. The survey found that 6% of consumers were cutting spending on financial safeguards such as their home insurance.

Figures from Pearson Ham’s latest Pet Insurance Pricing Index show that lifetime cover premiums levelled off in December, after significant dips the previous month, to the end the year at a comparable level to where they were 12 months previously. Significant inconsistency in pricing remains regionally.

Atec has gone live with a new product to cover small, one-off events from its InsureMy brand. InsureMy Event is underwritten by Bspoke Insurance. It provides public and employers’ liability cover as well as cover for cancellations and accidents.