May 2007/1

Back office service provider Xchanging and market information and analysis firm Advisen Ltd are teaming up to launch an ACORD messaging hub for the London Market.

The senior management re-shuffle at Marsh Ltd continues after the appointment of Martin South as CEO of the broker’s UK operations.

Lloyd's is piloting technology that will check insurance slips automatically as it continues to promote contract certainty and process efficiencies.

Brit Insurance confirmed the sale of a controlling stake in its electronic trading platform RI3K to a consortium including ICAP founder Michael Spencer, and hedge fund giant Eton Park LLP, as predicted by Insider Week last week.

Thank you to all who took part in The Insurance Insider’s 2007 London market survey, in association with ImageRight. The survey collected over 150 responses throughout April and the results will be published in our Business Process Reform supplement to be

Reinsurance broker John B Collins Associates (UK) Ltd (Collins) has formed a new subsidiary, Collins Capital Advisors LLC (Collins Capital), to tap into the closing relationship between the insurance industry and capital markets.

Portuguese conglomerate Sonae SGPS has acquired a 14 percent stake in the independent reinsurance broker Cooper Gay (Holding) Ltd with the option to double its stake to 28 percent.

Willis continued its top tier re-shuffling last week with the appointment of Brendan McManus as chief executive of Willis UK & Ireland (WUK&I) operating division.

Strong growth in the firm's Americas division propelled Aon Corp's first quarter 2007 earnings and helped offset a weak performance from the group's UK division.

The trend for insurers to integrate their distribution channels has continued with Travelers purchase of the London-based Galatea Underwriting Agencies Ltd.

US (re)insurer Liberty Mutual Group will continue searching for takeover targets despite its $2.7bn acquisition of Ohio Casualty Corp, according to its president and CEO, Edmund Kelly.

Canadian combine Fairfax Financial Holdings received a ratings boost from AM Best following the reporting of its first quarter results last week.