Jen Frost reviews the news

This week we spoke to Insurance Post news editor, Jen Frost to get her take on the past week in insurance news.

What has been the stand-out story for you on insurance this week - and why?

Plenty to choose from this week with first half results season upon us. It has to be a toss-up between Hastings going private – speaks for itself – and Amanda Blanc not splitting Aviva, particularly as some analysts had been predicting a bold move. She’s hinted the business could look to shed some of its non-UK, Ireland and Canada business so we’ll see what happens there.

Which news this week do you think will have the most long-term impact on the insurance industry?

I’m not sure to what extent it will impact on the insurance industry yet but certainly the biggest overall impact will be the tragic Lebanon blast. Hannover Re has come out and said it’s expecting to see a major loss but can’t quantify anything yet. Other insurers have understandably been cagier, with Loss Adjusters on standby. For now, I expect most of us can agree that thoughts are with the people of Beirut and the rescue effort.

Who is your insurance personality of the week and why?

I can think of a few personalities that have stood out lately, but my insurance personality of the week is First Central CEO Michael Lee, somewhat shamelessly because I profiled him for Post a year into his role at the growing motor provider.

On the topic of motor – if you’d asked me not so long ago, I would have said Elon Musk and his bid for revolutionary actuaries.

Another recent one, though not quite this week, Gavin Kealey, Ecclesiastical and MS Amlin’s QC in the FCA’s business interruption test case and a man described as “unfailingly charming” on his chambers profile, also comes to mind for his blacksmith-related and other banter during the not-always-exhilarating proceedings.

Looking back over the last 6 months, what story do you think has or should have had the most impact on the insurance market to date?

Unfortunately, I have to say it’s a case of Covid, Covid, Covid.

And finally: If you could interview anyone from the world of insurance and they had to answer your question 100% truthfully, who would it be and what would you ask them?

If they had to answer truthfully then I’d ask Eldon Insurance owner Arron Banks the Russia question and clear it up once and for all either way…