Day: August 19, 2025

Emotional intelligence key to return-to-work strategy: Panel

When the person in charge of workers compensation for one of the country’s largest school districts began sending get-well cards to injured teachers, support staff, maintenance workers and bus drivers, the district’s legal costs decreased by 16% within a few years.

Tesla drivers can pursue class action over self-driving claims: Judge

Tesla must face a certified class action by California drivers who said Elon Musk misled them for eight years about the self-driving capabilities of his company’s electric vehicles.

‘Medical scarcity’ could lead to more litigation in comp: Panel

Whether an injured worker can promptly see a medical professional is a good predictor of whether that worker will eventually see a legal professional, according to a panel of medical professionals.

MGA Pivix launches brokerage division

Pivix Specialty Insurance Services, a managing general agency, announced Tuesday it launched a brokerage division, led by insurance industry veteran Michael Gramm.

CNA promotes three executives

CNA on Monday promoted David Haas to president global specialty and elevated two additional executives.

Court says hospital technician suffered psych injury from sexual harassment

The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a finding that an ultrasound technician suffered a compensable psychological injury from a patient’s unwanted sexual advances and his “salacious and exhibitionistic” exposure of his genitals.

MS&AD Insurance’s profit improves

Japan-based MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. posted a first-quarter net profit of $1.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion a year earlier, Insurance Asia reported. Non-life direct premiums written rose to $9.7 billion from $8.6 billion, while overseas operations grew on market share gains at its Lloyd’s and reinsurance units, and expansion in Asia, Europe and […]

Insurer merger to create one of Philippine’s largest carriers

Philippine firms FPG Insurance Company Inc. and The Mercantile Insurance Company Inc. have agreed to merge in a landmark deal that will create one of the country’s largest non-life insurers, Asia Insurance Review reported. The combined entity, to be named FPG Mercantile, is expected to generate 10 billion Philippine pesos ($175 million) in gross written […]

Gulf Insurance’s H1 profits slide

Kuwait-based Gulf Insurance Group KSCP posted a net profit of 13 million Kuwaiti dinars ($41 million) for the first half of 2025, down from KWD17 million a year earlier, Middle East Insurance Review reported. Net insurance results slipped to KWD16 million from KWD17 million, while insurance revenue declined to KWD360 million from KWD449 million.

Global emerging market reinsurers maintain strong profits: Fitch

Profitability among global emerging market reinsurers, including Mexico-based Reaseguradora Patria SA, Barbados firms Ocean International Reinsurance Company Ltd. and Eureka-Re SCC, Oman Reinsurance Company SAOC and Bermuda-based ASR Re Ltd., has been strong, with return on equity ranging between 5% and 22% in the past two years, according to Fitch Ratings, Reinsurance News reported. While […]

Air Canada grounds flights as 10,000 crew members strike

Air Canada was forced to cancel hundreds of flights after 10,000 flight attendants went on strike, defying a federal return-to-work order, ABC News reported. The work stoppage, which was declared unlawful by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, has affected an estimated 130,000 travelers per day.

Acquinex names new CEO

U.K.-based Acquinex Ltd. has appointed Josh Cowen as chief executive officer to lead its next phase of growth, Reinsurance News reported. Cowen, who previously held senior roles at U.S.-based Chubb Ltd., U.K. firm Aviva plc and Australia’s Fusion Specialty Insurance Pty Ltd., will oversee daily operations while co-founders Chris Jackson and Chris Thompson transition to […]

Brazil’s reinsurance market outlook negative: A.M. Best

A.M. Best has maintained its negative outlook on Brazil’s reinsurance market due to political uncertainty and new tax reforms that have pressured profitability, Reinsurance News reported. Offshore reinsurers are now paying more than triple the taxes they did previously, while restrictions on foreign assets have limited growth abroad.

Atradius U.K. launches surety branch in London

U.K.-based Atradius Credit Insurance NV has launched a dedicated surety branch in London to expand its offering of bonds and guarantees, Continuity Insurance & Risk Magazine reported. The move enables Atradius to support businesses both domestically and overseas.

Gallagher highlights growing wildfire risks globally

Wildfires are no longer confined to summer and are now a year-round risk for communities, businesses and insurers, according to U.S.-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, Insurance News reported. The evolving threat has resulted in larger economic losses and higher insurance costs, with insurers’ appetite for wildfire exposure tightening and underwriters increasingly relying on third-party […]

Chair of Suncorp’s New Zealand unit steps down

Australia-based Suncorp Group Ltd.’s New Zealand arm announced that David Flacks will retire as chair after more than six years in the role, Insurance News reported. Flacks will be succeeded next month by director Rob McDonald, who joined the board earlier this year and previously served as CFO at Air New Zealand Ltd.

Macao regulator sets stricter standards for insurers

The Monetary Authority of Macao has raised standards for insurance intermediaries by enforcing the revised Insurance Intermediary Business Ordinance from Aug. 1, Insurance Asia reported. The updated rules introduce stricter licensing requirements, higher educational and suitability standards and an “appointing principal” mechanism obligating insurers to oversee their representatives.