Coming Events (July 01, 2000)
July 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. International Insurance Society, Inc.…
Reinsurance market innovations: Staying Alive
July 1, 2000 Glenn McGillivray, head of corporate communication at Swiss ReinWhat are some of the world’s reinsurers doing to move forward amid what has been the worst market downturn in recent memory?
Turning a slow corner: Canadian Insurance Congress 2000
July 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe 2000 Canadian Insurance Congress — which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary as Canada’s premier annual reinsurance/primary company CEO forum — drew together a strong cast of speakers from across the sectors of the North American property and casualty…
WANTED: Partners against natural disasters
July 1, 2000 Linda Matthews, COO of Royal & SunAlliance CanadaFor most Canadians, a natural disaster is something that takes place half a world away, generally in poor, under-developed countries, across the hurricane swept Caribbean, or along the southeast coast of the U.S. But more natural disasters are happening in our own backyard, adding to the burden of risk management, and raising concern that resources for immediate disaster relief will be spread too thin.
General Re group streamlines global corporate identity
July 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterFollowing a string of global office restructurings among reinsurers, the Berkshire Hathaway owned General Re Corporation and Cologne Re have been amalgamated in name as one operation as GeneralCologne Re. “The essence of our direct reinsurance business model is our…
Reinsurance market outlook: Margins Wear Thin
July 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe global reinsurance market suffered its worst underwriting year in 1999, largely as a result of natural disaster catastrophe losses estimated to having cost the industry about US$24 billion. European reinsurers finished 1999 with an alarming 131% combined ratio, the…
TAKING THE PLUNGE
June 1, 2000 Vikki SpencerArmed with over 50 years experience in the insurance business, Simon Farrow is ready to lead a new company, Thompson General Insurance, onto the playing field. The market may be competitive, he says, but this “virtual company” is mixing state…
On The Move (June 01, 2000)
June 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterLarry Simmons is stepping into the role of president and COO of Royal & SunAlliance Canada, effective with the departure of Linda Matthews later this year. Simmons is currently COO of commercial insurance for the company’s US operations and has…
Kingsway produces 1st quarter recovery
June 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterFollowing a fourth quarter loss for the 1999 financial year, specialty listed insurer Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (TSE:KFS) brought its bottom-line figures back into the black for the first quarter of the current year. Earnings for the first quarter of…
RIMS reveals restructuring
June 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe Risk and Insurance Management Society 2000 Conference & Exhibition, which was recently held in San Francisco, drew a record number of more than 12,000 attendees and exhibitors. The event marked the society’s 50th anniversary as the North American body…
Coming Events (June 01, 2000)
June 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Export Development Corporation (EDC) has earmarked $1 million over three years for an International Studies Scholarship, to be administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in business or economics focussing on international…
U.S. data threatens long-term growth
May 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterImbalances in growth rates for property/casualty insurance premiums, losses and expenses could lead to a record downturn, says Frank J. Coyne, president and chief operating officer of Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO). Forecasts based on third-quarter 1999 growth rates show…