THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG
May 1, 2000 Vikki SpencerAirbags recovered from written-off vehicles will be used for collision repairs in British Columbia, likely before the end of the year, says a researcher at the province’s public insurance organization. The decision follows testing on salvaged airbags conducted by the…
High Impact Ahead
May 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorWith the growth of property and casualty insurance industry earnings having plummeted to almost a 20-year low on the back of poor investment returns and intense rate competition — which saw last year’s annual rate of premium growth clock in…
U.S. Insurers look beyond the ratio
March 1, 2000 Lowell Conn & Sean van ZylU.S. insurers are fortifying themselves for lower profitability and a higher operating ratio in the coming year, a survey revealed at the 2000 Property & Casualty Insurance Joint Industry Forum recently in New York City. Industry chiefs insist that, despite heightened merger and acquisition in the year ahead, the overcapitalized insurance environment could soon be swept away by an abundance of cost-absorptive changes.
U.S. fin-reform focuses CEO strategy planning
March 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe repeal of the U.S. Glass-Steagall legislation toward the end of last year has opened what many in the property and casualty insurance industry see as a “Pandora’s box”. The legislation was replaced with the Financial Services Modernization Act of…
Coming Events (March 01, 2000)
March 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterAnnouncements in Coming Events are run free of charge as a service to the industry. Items should be submitted by the first of the month prior to the month in which the announcement is to appear. Toronto Insurance Women’s Association:…
The Political Lobbying War Heats UP
March 1, 2000 Sean van ZylControl over the distribution of insurance products is once again back on the property and casualty insurance industry’s radar screen as the federal government’s proposed white paper on financial services competition is set to go forward before parliament for legislative…
Developing niche lines of business: The garage sale closed
March 1, 2000 by Lowell ConnWhen the “garage sale” begins and market players undercut one another, nowhere is the reverberations felt any stronger than the specialty lines business. Niche operators want the message to be clear: “Stay out of out of our business”. More to…
The three sided E-COIN
February 1, 2000 Sean Laughlin, business development manager, E-Business SolutionBuy-side, inside, and sell-side technology strategies are three systems today’s insurers are utilizing to create and maintain their competitive advantage.
Technology: Reaching for the Future
February 1, 2000 Lowell ConnThe answer to industry automation might never have been the Synchron Project or any vendor based initiative. There is rising sentiment that it always was the internet. This industry-wide realization has struck home, and insurers are now rushing to get…
On The Move (February 01, 2000)
February 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterQueensway Financial Holdings Limited has announced the appointment of Glenn Gibson as chief financial officer of Queensway replacing Cathy Wilson. Gibson brings more than 17 years of financial management to his new role. Chubb & Son vice president John Owens,…
Up In Smoke
February 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe fact that one of Hollywood’s recent creations “The Insider”, which is based on behind-the-scenes dirty tricks employed by opposing parties in the U.S. anti-tobacco wars, achieved such box office success clearly indicates rising public interest in tarring cigarette manufacturers…
BIP Branding: The Pendulum SWINGS
February 1, 2000 Mabel Sansom, executive director Insurance Brokers Association oOn February, 28, the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada will launch its new television campaign, running until June 11, on network and specialty television. The campaign will be supported by a strong print campaign explaining the benefits of dealing within the independent broker channel. The campaign is intended to do one thing — brand the BIP logo in the consumer minds and direct them towards unbiased, professional advice when purchasing property & casualty insurance.