Mark Birrell News

U.K. MGA Optio Buys Political Violence and Terrorism MGA, Newbridge Risk Partners

Optio, the London-based MGA that comprises Ascent Underwriting, Cove Programs and broker Bay Risk Services, announced it has acquired specialist political-violence and terrorism MGA Newbridge Risk Partners from Castel Underwriting Agencies Ltd., the club-style MGA formation platform. Financial details of …

London-Based MGA Castel Specialty Enters Construction and Engineering Market

Castel Specialty, the London-based division of club-style MGA formation platform Castel Underwriting Agencies Ltd., has entered the construction and engineering market, primarily focused on the UK, North America, Australia, Canada and other key territories. Heading up the new offering is …

MGAs Working with Insurtech Firms to Bolster Customer Centricity: Survey

Managing general agents (MGAs) are increasingly interested in working with insurtech firms to enable their businesses to become more customer-centric, according to a new survey of UK MGAs. More than 42 percent of survey respondents feel insurtech helps MGAs evolve …

Castel Specialty Launches Global Construction Business

Castel Specialty, a division of Castel Underwriting Agencies Ltd., has expanded its portfolio with the launch of Castel Construction. London-based Castel Underwriting Agencies, part of Barbican Insurance Group, is a club-style MGA formation platform, which supports individual underwriters with smaller …

MGA Nirvana Targets Media, Technology & Cyber Risks on Castel Platform

Nirvana Risk Partners has launched as an underwriting cell on Castel Underwriting Agencies’ MGA formation platform, targeting media, technology and cyber liability risks. Nirvana will underwrite risks for small and large enterprises on a global basis with a particular emphasis …

Soft Market Is Main Factor Limiting Growth of UK MGAs: Survey

Soft market conditions have replaced regulation and compliance as the main factor affecting growth for UK managing general agents (MGA) in 2017, said a survey of members of the London-based Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA). The soft market was cited …

‘Xuber for MGAs’ Platform Delivered for Castel Underwriting

Xuber, the insurance software business of Xchanging, a unit of CSC, announced the delivery of its “Xuber for MGAs” platform for London-based Castel Underwriting Agencies Ltd. Xuber for MGAs is a flexible digital platform that enables Castel to provide and …

UK’s MGAA Elects New Board Members Birrell and Manchester

The London-based Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) announced the election of new board members Mark Birrell, chief executive of Castel Underwriting, and Charles Manchester, chief executive of Manchester Underwriting Management. They join directors Catherine Bell, chairman of inet3, Charles Earle, …

U.K. MGAs Seek Greater Role in Claims Process: MGAA Matters Survey

Managing general agents are keen to be more involved in the claims process because they view claims as a core competence with an intrinsic link to underwriting, according to the latest MGAA Matters Survey.* The fourth quarterly MGAA Matters Survey, …

UK’s Castel Underwriting Launches New ‘Club Style’ MGA Formation

UK-based Castel Underwriting announced the launch of a “new club style MGA formation platform that provides experienced and entrepreneurial underwriters with stable capacity and a fast-track route to creating their own businesses.” The new venture is headed by the former …