Latest Underwriting Headlines

When to Create an Agency Marketing Department

Dec 4 2005 // Agencies that establish an effective centralized marketing department as part of an overall strategic plan will experience a significant competitive edge over their competitors who do not have such a department. This is...

Ease of Doing Business Survey Sets Benchmark for Carriers to Follow

Dec 4 2005 // Ease of Doing Business (EDB) has been a bit like the weather-everybody talks about it, but doing something about it is another matter. While you can’t change the weather, you can equip yourself and your organization...

Agency Consolidation Dynamics are Ripe for the Picking

Dec 4 2005 // The consolidation of insurance agencies has played a prominent role within the industry over the last 30 years. Now more than ever, however, such activity increasingly influences the average size of distributors, the scope...

Dec 4 2005 // Burns & Wilcox, a national specialty insurance managing general agency, has promoted Wayne Bates to director of the company’s Special Risk Division (SRD), International and promoted him to associate vice...

Dec 4 2005 // The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, Austin, Texas, has announced that two outstanding customer service representatives have received its National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award for 2005:...

Smaller and Regional Programs: Proven Exercises

Dec 4 2005 // Pumped for profit Robin C. Brennan knows fuel dealers. She’s been handling their insurance needs since 1998. Brennan is a vice president with the Managing Agency Group in Hartford, Conn., a subsidiary of Hilb Rogal...

Best Downgrades Ratings on Allianz Marine & Fire (France)

Nov 30 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has downgraded the financial strength rating to “A-” (Excellent) from “A+” (Superior) of Allianz Marine & Aviation (France) (AMAF) and has removed the rating...

Markel’s Investors Underwriting Managers Names Kazanjian

Nov 22 2005 // Investors Underwriting Managers has named Mike Kazanjian as associate vice president marketing. Kazanjian brings to IUM more than 20 years of experience in marketing and operations, serving the insurance industry. Just...

Sarbanes-Oxley Consulting Creates Opportunities, Risks for Underwriters

Nov 21 2005 // Underwriters and accountants will have many opportunities to advise companies in interpreting and implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but they should be aware of the increased exposure to risk, attendees at the most...

Sarbanes-Oxley Consulting Creates Opportunities, Risks for Underwriters

Nov 20 2005 // Underwriters and accountants will have many opportunities to advise companies in interpreting and implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but they should be aware of the increased exposure to risk, attendees at the most...

Nov 20 2005 // The Nevada Independent Insurance Agents has elected a new board of directors and has named a new president. Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman has announced the installation of the following newly-elected...

ASU International Changes Name to HCC Specialty Underwriters

Nov 18 2005 // ASU International Inc. (ASU), a specialty underwriting agency subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., has announced that it has changed its name to HCC Specialty Underwriters Inc. William F. Hubbard, CEO of HCC...

Ark. Reminds Insurers of Rural Risk Underwriting Assessment

Nov 16 2005 // The Arkansas Insurance Department issued a reminder that the annual Rural Risk Underwriting Assessment of $200 is due to the department by Dec. 31. Under state law, the insurance commissioner may assess insurers for the...

Best Puts Platinum’s Reinsurance Subsidiaries Ratings Under Review/Negative

Nov 16 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the reinsurance subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Platinum...

U.K.’s Omega Underwriting to Raise $157 Million; Forming Bermuda Sub

Nov 14 2005 // The U.K.’s Omega Underwriting Holdings PLC, a leading Lloyd’s insurer (Syndicate 958), has announced plans to raise £90 million ($157 million), both to increase syndicate capacity and to support the...

Specialty Underwriters Report Q3 Loss

Nov 11 2005 // Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. today reported a net loss of $4.8 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2005. Total revenues were $9.1 million, comprised of earned insurance premiums of $8.2 million and...

RenRe Announces Appointments; O’Donnell to Head Reins. Sub; Branagan to Head Group Risk Modeling

Nov 9 2005 // RenaissanceRe Holdings is moving to fill the rather large gap created by the sudden departure of James Stanard, its President and CEO (See IJ Website Nov. 1). The company announced that Kevin J. O’Donnell has been...

Roy Pasini, Former Publisher of Underwriters’ Report, Dies

Nov 9 2005 // Roy Pasini, former publisher of Underwriters’ Report, died Saturday following a month-long hospitalization. Funeral services and mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker...

Credit-based Insurance Scoring Remains a Key Legislative, Regulatory Issue

Nov 7 2005 // Credit-based insurance scoring has been a contentious legislative and regulatory issue in the world of insurance for at least the last three or four years, but the nature of the debate has changed, Robert Detlefsen,...

MarketScout Barometer Shows Continued Softening in Professional Liability Market

Nov 7 2005 // MarketScout has analyzed the submissions from its agency network in an exclusive market evaluation on behalf of the Insurance Journal. Additionally, MarketScout conducted in person interviews with various industry leading...