All in the news this week ...

Towergate in staff row

Towergate is considering taking legal action against a group of ex-employees for alleged breaches of restrictive covenants. The staff formerly worked for GHBC, taken over by Towergate in 2006. GHBC managing director Matthew Bray left in 2008, becoming chief executive of Lorica Insurance Brokers last year, and Anne Peters, Ray Potter, Stuart Copperwheat and Mark Maynard joined him at Lorica.

Promotion for LV= boss

LV= director of pricing and technical services Selwyn Fernandes has been named managing director of its direct business. Continuing to report to LV= managing director John O’Roarke, he is to oversee all direct business written under the LV= brand and through corporate partnerships. Fernandes will still lead the pricing and technical services team, which has recruited Guy Lawrence as underwriting director and Hugh Kenyon as pricing director.

AXA man joins Groupama

Ex-AXA assistant product manager Julian Abson has joined Groupama as development underwriter on its private motor team. He will be responsible for developing motor for Groupama through its panel of intermediaries. Based in London, he will work with Groupama’s existing broker partners to develop and strengthen key relationships.