October 2009/4

Xchanging opens US headquarters; RFIB announces divisional restructure; Towergate acquires Hull-based broker; QBE secures rugby sponsorship deal; Moody’s upgrades Markel Syndicate 3000...

As the US non-life industry gathers in Florida for the annual PCI conference, one of the unexpected topics was Markel Corp announcement that the group's president and COO Paul Springman had taken an unexplained leave of absence.

Jubilee hires senior ONE Group figure for claims business; RFIB hire Aon Benfield broker as marine director.

Texas-based Southwest Insurance Partners Inc (SWIP) has named Arthur Seifert as CEO to drive expansion at its wholly owned underwriting agency, Bunker Hill Insurance Agency.

London-based Venture capitalist partnership Alpine Risk Services has provided funding to drive the future expansion plans of the UK transactional consultancy and development firm Wildnet.

The well-managed run-off of the Illinois-headquartered Kemper Insurance Cos inspired the US P&C legacy industry to acknowledge Barbara Murray as its Run-Off Person of the Year.

Expansive independent (re)insurance broker Cooper Gay has acquired the majority shareholding in Florida-based reinsurance broker, Reinsurance.com.ar LLC.

Aon Benfield has moved to strengthen its Benelux division with the appointment of Hans Groot as COO, while adding two new members to its analytics team in the region.

Willis CFO and COO Patrick Regan is leaving the insurance broker to join the world's fifth largest insurance group, Aviva, as CFO.

Canadian combine Fairfax Financial Holdings (FFH) now owns 97 percent of Odyssey Re following the expiration of its cash tender offer for the remaining shares in its affiliated reinsurer.

A new draft of a bill on regulating credit rating agencies is set to be lodged in the US House of Representatives with key language dropped, according to reports.

Rates and premium levels for airlines have continued to increase for risks renewing in October, though brokers are divided as to the extent of the increases achieved.