Latest Underwriting Headlines

All the headlines from our Underwriting Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Flagstone Re Buying Lloyd’s Marlborough Underwriting Agency

Oct 20 2008 // Bermuda-based Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited has entered into an agreement to acquire Marlborough Underwriting Agency Limited, the managing agency for Lloyd’s Syndicate 1861. The Syndicate underwrites a...

People

Oct 20 2008 // Calabasas, Calif.-based Lionheart Insurance Services hired Pat Piccinonno and Joe Weckerle Jr. to head its newly opened Irvine, Calif., office. Piccinonno, appointed president, has 35 years of insurance management and...

AIG Commercial Insurance Battles Back

Oct 20 2008 // Execs Say Balance Sheet, Underwriting Appetite Remain Strong as Ever Exclusive Insurance Journal Interview with AIG Commercial Insurance CEO John Doyle and CFO Rob Schimek The very strengths in its balance sheet, surplus,...

Risk Placement Services Hires Kufner as Underwriter/Broker in Scottsdale

Oct 17 2008 // Wendy Kufner has joined Risk Placement Services Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz., as an underwriter/broker. She brings to her position a strong insurance background as both a retail and wholesale broker. She will be responsible...

W.R. Berkley Forms New Canadian Underwriting Operation

Oct 16 2008 // W. R. Berkley Corp. announced the formation of Berkley Underwriting Managers Canada, Ltd. The new unit is based in Toronto and will offer a wide range of specialty casualty commercial insurance products, including general...

AIG Commercial Insurance Unit Financially Fit and Fighting Back

Oct 14 2008 // The very strengths in its balance sheet, surplus, underwriting and personnel that have made the Commercial Insurance unit of American International Group (AIG) a market leader are keeping it competitive even while the...

It Pays To Specialize

Oct 6 2008 // How Program Managers Beat the Commodity Trend and Soft Market Despite challenging soft market conditions, today’s program administrators should be able to seize the day’s market opportunities thanks to their...

For Agents, Their Carriers’ Claims Service is Top Performance Measure

Oct 6 2008 // Independent insurance agents want their property/casualty insurance carriers to provide quality claims service above all else, according to an exclusive survey of agents’ attitudes about the insurers their agencies...

P/C Insurers’ Net Income, Profitability Fall Sharply in First-Half 2008

Oct 1 2008 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry’s net income after taxes fell 57.4 percent to $13.9 billion in first-half 2008 from $32.7 billion in first-half 2007. The insurance industry’s overall profitability...

XL Insurance Opens Boston Office

Oct 1 2008 // XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd, has opened a new regional office in Boston. The office, located at 470 Atlantic Avenue, will provide insurance agents, brokers and their clients in the...

Best Affirms Catlin’s Ratings

Sep 26 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Catlin Insurance Company Limited (CICL), as well as Catlin...

Sovereign Risk Appoints Demeyer as New Senior Underwriter

Sep 24 2008 // Bermuda-based Sovereign Risk Insurance Ltd. announced that Sophie Demeyer will join the Company as a Vice President and Senior Underwriting Officer. She will replace Nila Davda, who is relocating to open Sovereign’s...

Lack of Technology Can Raise Agency E&O Concerns

Sep 22 2008 // The use of technology is interwoven into agency procedures and practices, says Sabrena Sally, senior vice president of commercial insurance with Westport Insurance Corp., a subsidiary of Swiss Re and one of the largest...

People

Sep 22 2008 // The Chubb Corp has named Richard G. Spiro executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 1. Spiro, 44, succeeds the retiring Michael O’Reilly, who will remain at company until the end of 2008 to...

People

Sep 22 2008 // Jacksonville, Florida-based Harden & Associates, an insurance brokerage company, promoted Dustin Theilacker to chief information officer. As CIO, Theilacker will continue to provide technology vision and leadership...

For Independent Agents, Carriers’ Claims Service is Top Performance Measure

Sep 15 2008 // Independent insurance agents want their property/casualty insurance carriers to provide quality claims service above all else, according to an exclusive survey of agents’ attitudes about the insurers their agencies...

Allied World Names D’Orazio Chief Underwriter; Bell Operating and Admin.

Sep 11 2008 // Allied World Assurance Company Holdings has announced two senior management promotions. Frank D’Orazio has been named Chief Underwriting Officer of Allied World Assurance Company, its Bermuda insurance subsidiary,...

Endurance Management Postings Expand International Operations

Sep 9 2008 // Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. announced several new leadership appointments in its international reinsurance operation servicing non-US clients. Laurent Beauregard has been appointed Senior Account...

Rendezvous Roundup: Guy Carpenter; Aon Global Re; Munich Re

Sep 8 2008 // The Annual Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo convened this weekend amid concerns over the ongoing credit crisis, the softening of the market and the onslaught of storms in the Caribbean. The current climate for the...

Endurance Names Kent to Head London Reinsurance Operations

Sep 3 2008 // Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Lauren Kent as Senior Underwriting Manager and Head of Reinsurance for Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited in London. She has 18 years of...