October 2012/3

Antares hires Brock for PI; Milli Re downgraded; Argo redeems; Gallagher rolls up; BIBA goodbye; Green light; Brit hires from Atrium; Crop dusting; Cyber perils; Viva le France; Equinox increases firepower; Nephila promotes; AIG All Black; Howden joins Brazil throng; Gallagher continues JLT hires; Argenta promotes; Associations unite; Go west; Allianz hire; D&O duo; BMS hire; Brit complete

UK motor intermediary Hastings Insurance Group has hired Gary Hoffman, former CEO of state-owned bank Northern Rock, to head the firm, indicating the scale of its ambitions.

The London market and wider insurance industry need to lobby far more effectively to avoid suffering unnecessarily from the post-financial crisis re-regulation drive.

The contingency policy taken out to protect George Michael's Australian tour was cancelled just days before the singer withdrew citing "major anxiety" issues.

News that Dowling Hales has hired Charles Norton-Smith to spearhead an expansion into London has been met with a collective groan by the wider corporate advisory community

Kiln's flagship Syndicate 510 is expected to report "a solid pre-tax profit" in 2012 and a combined ratio of around 90 percent, AM Best has said.

Historically, October is the month that exhibits the highest levels of volatility in global stock markets.

The cautious tone that typified many rate conversations at the CIAB conference in Colorado Springs was also evident at the Napslo annual convention in Atlanta last week.