Client Coverage
In an article in Professional Adviser, Collegiate Underwriting’s Shriya Patel examines how the FCA’s Consumer Duty has raised expectations on firms to identify and support vulnerable customers, yet many still fall short.
Patel highlights that “the dynamic nature of vulnerability can make determining who’s in scope complicated”, and discusses the low levels of customer self-disclosure, as well as and the risks firms face if processes are not properly embedded.
Patel argues that governance, training, tailored communication and regular reviews are essential, and that responsibility must sit at the highest level.
Reinsurance News reported that global reinsurer MS Reinsurance has named Lutz Honstetter as its new Chief Investment Officer, based in Zurich and reporting to CEO Robert Wiest. In this leadership role, Honstetter will shape the reinsurer’s long-term investment strategy and contribute to its executive team. He brings over 25 years of senior asset management experience from the insurance, pension and banking sectors.
“I am delighted to welcome Lutz to our team,” said Wiest. “As our company continues to grow, it is increasingly important to have high quality investment decision-making, and Lutz’s deep expertise and leadership experience will be critical as we align our long-term investment strategy with both the reinsurance cycle and overall business objectives.”
This Insurance Post article explores growing concern among Professional Indemnity (PI) insurers over “silent” AI exposure as lawyers misuse generative AI, creating heightened negligence risks. While claims remain limited, uncertainty persists around coverage, pricing and exclusions, which is driving a greater focus on governance and oversight.
Commenting on the use of exclusions, Anthony Kerr, senior client manager at New Dawn Risk, commented that “Trying to impose arbitrary exclusions … would only disrupt the availability of necessary coverage. Personally, I believe the only practical approach is to wait and see how claims materialise, and then draft coverage that reflects those known risks.”
In this article, 20Twenty Search advisor Jason Sykes discusses how growing hedge fund interest in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market is intensifying recruitment competition and testing sector talent dynamics.
“The latest wave of high‑profile hires from specialist ILS firms signals renewed interest – but also raises questions about its impact on talent and market stability,” said Sykes.
Sykes also highlights that, with hedge funds making high-profile hires from specialist firms and offering premium pay, established ILS businesses face tighter talent pools and staffing challenges, particularly given long notice periods and limited early-career pipelines.
A wide range of senior leaders from Managing General Agents shared their thoughts in Insurance Post’s MGAs Review of the year, including Collegiate Management Services Managing Director Richard Turnbull.
Describing the best news for the MGA sector in 2025, Mr. Turnbull pointed to the abundance of capacity available, but warned about the potential consequences of insurers recklessly providing capacity to competing MGAs. This, he said, doesn’t promote prudent underwriting standards and contributes to a more volatile market.
Mr. Turnbull voiced disappointment at the speed with which certain elements of the insurance market have reverted to some of the poor practices, which he said were “prevalent and possibly responsible for the reduction in capacity and subsequent hardening of the market in 2019.”
In the Insurance Age ‘Review of the Year’ feature, Rob Gibbs, President & CEO, SiriusPoint International, highlighted strong growth through MGA partnerships, which has involved building strategic relationships with leading MGAs from the ground up and creating meaningful, deep partnerships that align with the company’s long-term strategy.
Mr. Gibbs said that he sees the UK’s MGA market as buoyant, attracting European interest and healthy competition.
Painting a positive picture for 2026, Mr. Gibbs said he expects solid profitability and continued MGA momentum, but noted the need for discipline amid some market softening. His wishes for 2026 include greater efficiency, automation, and reduced geopolitical tensions.
In an interview with Insurance Business, James Bullock-Webster, Director and Head of Tech, Media & Cyber at New Dawn Risk, discusses the threats posed by payment processors.
In the interview, Mr. Bullock-Webster discusses how payment processors are critical to global commerce but face persistent cyber threats like ransomware, data breaches, and systemic risks from third-party failures.
Mr Bullock-Webster said: “From a bad actor’s perspective, there’s something of a gold mine. If you can disrupt them [payment processors], if you can extract money out of them, they are a high-value target.” He went on to explain that, while risks have evolved digitally, the fundamentals remain unchanged, requiring insurers and brokers to adapt quickly to protect clients.
IQUW has promoted Tristram Prior to Head of Professional Lines & Cyber Insurance in Bermuda. Tristram will oversee the launch of Directors’ & Officers’ (D&O), Financial Institutions (FI), and Cyber products, reporting to Chief Underwriting Officer James Mitchell.
The appointment supports IQUW’s strategy to expand its Bermuda platform and diversify its offering, following its recent move into Mortgage, Credit, and Cyber reinsurance.
Tristram said: “I’m excited to help establish IQUW Bermuda as a market for Professional Lines and Cyber insurance, delivering data, insight and human expertise to support brokers with a seamless, efficient service proposition.”