Embedded insurance platform Embri has teamed up with tools and equipment retailer SGS Engineering to create SGS Protect, an online embedded insurance proposition. It offers customers theft and damage cover at the point of sale.

Nigel Walsh, former head of global insurance at Google has announced that he has taken up a post at AI business platform provider ServiceNow to become its head of global insurance. He announced the move on social media.

Howden has completed the acquisition of Forbes Insurance and Hill Aviation and the two brands are now operating under the Howden banner. They will operate from a new Howden Leicester office and Terry Moyes, former CEO of Forbes Insurance, will head up the combined aviation team.

Broker Willis has published its ‘Airline Insurance Market Review Q1 2025’ and does not expect the market to harden during the first six months of the year. The report explores issues such as the potential resolution of the ongoing Russia/Ukraine leasing claims as well as the rising costs of smaller or attritional claims.

Insurance provider Tifgroup has relaunched TopDog Travel Insurance with a refreshed range of products that is underwritten by Capacity Insights. The provider said single-trip and annual multi-trip policies were available to individuals and families travelling for recreation and business.

Cyber insurance provider Cowbell has joined the Association of British Insurers. The US firm also has offices in the UK, Canada and India. It focuses on providing cover to SMEs. The ABI comprises more than 300 members.

Managing general agent Dual Group has consolidated five brands into one. Going forward, Dual Oliva, Dual Aqua, Dual Asset, Dual Galileo and Dual M&A will now be known as Dual UK. Other brands such as KGM, Magenta, David Ashby and IPP will continue to operate under their current brands as part of Dual UK.

Independent re/insurance broker Miller has announced revenues of £271m for the year ended 31st December 2024, an increase of 13% on the previous year. The firm said more than 90% of the growth delivered was organic. It placed gross written premium of approximately £3.1bn.

Lloyd’s legacy business acquirer RiverStone International has signed a reinsurance to close contract with Asta Managing Agency. As a result, the 2022 underwriting year of account of Hampden Risk Partners Syndicate 2689 will close into Riverstone International Syndicate 3500.

Speciality re/insurance broker McGill and Partners has launched its own AI agent, powered by agentic AI technology and using Salesforce’s AI system, Agentforce. The agent is part of McGill and Partners’ Underscore platform and the firm said it would enhance its ability to improve interactions with clients and partners.

PIB Group has acquired Wolverhampton-based Residentsline, which specialises in insurance for flats and apartments. The business was owned by managing director Belinda Bagnall and will become part of PIB’s UK Speciality division, which includes PIB Insurance Brokers, PIB Risk Management and PIB Employee Benefits.

Charles Taylor InsureTech, which provides cloud-based SaaS technology solutions to the insurance market has upgraded its InHub platform with a focus on the following five areas: security and performance, user experience, smarter portal development, automation, and cloud flexibility.

Gallagher Re’s Global InsurTech Report Q4 2024 has reported that global insurtech funding dropped 5.6% year-on-year, from approximately £3.6bn in 2023 to £3.4bn in 2024. It said global insurtech funding halved from £1.1bn in Q3 2024 to £546m in Q4.

A widening range of risks in the D&O sector is driving up demand according to a survey by Global Insurance Law Connect. Key factors driving this growth include regulation and sanctions, increasing attention on environmental, social and governance, and the challenges from a rapidly evolving cyber and AI space.

Data analytics specialist Broker Insights has announced a three-year extension to its partnership with insurer, Hiscox. The renewal agreement brings the collaboration to a total of nine consecutive years.

The London Market Group has added David Kirk, division president at Chubb Global Markets, to its board as a representative of the International Underwriting Association. Kirk replaces David Furby, senior vice president at Chubb Group.