News in brief

Two join IMAS

IMAS Corporate Advisers has appointed Tony Shearer as chairman and Bruce McIntyre as a new partner. Shearer was previously chief executive of Singer & Friedlander, the banking group.

Winter storm hits europe

Roofs were ripped off and rivers burst their banks when winter storm Klaus tore through southern France and northern Spain last weekend. Catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide said winds reached 139km in Biarritz, France, and up to 111km in Barcelona. About 1,000 French soldiers have been sent to help with rescues and clean-up efforts.

THB profit slips to £900,000

THB Group has reported a drop in pre-tax profit to £900,000 for the 18 months to 31 October 2008, down from £2.43m for the 12 months to 30 April 2007. Turnover at the Lloyd’s broker rose to £51.9m from £28.7m, however. Vic Thompson, outgoing chief executive of the group, said: “The business has coped extremely well with tough markets. It is well equipped to take advantage of improvements in the trading environment.”

Andrews to Glencairn

Glencairn, a division of Faber & Dumas, has appointed John Andrews as account executive. He will help spearhead the company’s push to increase its US and international property binding authority business. Andrews will be based in London and report to Nick Cook.

LRG Insurance

Last week’s edition of Insurance Times said that Oval had bought LRG Insurance, a commercial broker based in Hertfordshire. In fact, Giles bought the broker, its first acquisition of 2009. Giles made 21 acquisitions last year.