A quiz show conundrum, ladies that lunch amid succession announcement, trophy take home and a race to the finish line. What has the insurance industry been up to of late? You heard it here first…
Is that your final answer?
If there is one thing Insurance Times understands about the UK general insurance (UKGI) market, it is the sector’s competitiveness. For example, companies’ covet the scores, rates and rankings revealed in our research projects – such as Insurance Times’ Five Star Rating Reports, Top 50 Insurers and Top 50 Brokers supplements – as well as closely watch the results of the Insurance Times Fantasy Football League.
So it was with a certain amount of glee that editorial staffers participated in insurance software firm Genasys’ latest fun and games – a quiz styled on the popular television show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? with marketing vice-president Ed Halsey fulfilling the role of former show presenter Chris Tarrant. Rather than a cash lump sum, the quiz prize for the highest score was a £100 Amazon voucher.
Content director Katie Scott nabbed a score of 20 on a first attempt within the three-minute time frame, while news editor James Cowen fielded 18. Reporters George McDade and Harriet Scott tried to beat the multiple choice questions with some systematic clicking, gaining results in the 30s and 40s.
However, the concluding winner was Edmund Baker, reinsurance processing technician at Price Forbes Re, who scored an impressive 47.
Passing of the baton
On 18 June 2026, Ellie Jackson – sales development manager at Jensten Group owned broker Robert Gerrard – hosted her first Women in Business lunch at The Ivy City Garden, with a smorgasbord of successful female leaders from a variety of industry sectors, such as lift engineering and restoration, in attendance. Insurance Times content director Katie Scott also snagged an invite.
The afternoon event, held in the restaurant’s upstairs private dining room, included a three course lunch and intimate fireside chat chaired by Jackson – she quizzed artificial intelligence (AI) training and consultancy platform co-founders and sisters Lydia and Amelia Miller on technology, business strategy and working with family members.
The lunch also signalled a passing of the baton as Robert Gerrard managing director Carla Preston announced her retirement from August 2026, confirming Jackson as her successor.
Seeing success
A further celebratory event that took place on 18 June 2026 was the Newsquest Excellence Awards, an organisational awards dinner held at Coventry’s Coombe Abbey Hotel, recognising talented employees across Newsquest Media Group – the ultimate publishing business behind Insurance Times and its sister titles Strategic Risk and Global Reinsurance.
We are thrilled to announce that Insurance Times reporter Harriet Scott won the Inclusion and Diversity accolade for her deep dive articles into the nuances of diversity, equity and inclusion in the UK general insurance market.
Congratulations Hattie!
Sprint finish
Insurance Times tips its hat to Alex Ktenidis, chief distribution officer at Allianz, this month after the insurer leader completed a gruelling half ironman race on 7 June 2026 in an impressive six hours and 11 minutes.
A half ironman typically spans a 70.3 mile distance in total across numerous sporting disciplines, including a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run.
Ktenidis took on the ATW Grafman Middle Distance Triathlon in Cambridgeshire’s Huntingdon for his chosen half ironman challenge, which kicked off at Grafham Water Visitor Centre.
A huge well done to Ktenidis for going the distance!
Foodie Finds
Ever wondered where to take colleagues, peers or business connections for a lunch time two courses or an after work meal? Insurance Times rounds up some of the spots it has enjoyed with market firms recently…
- Clear Group-owned broker network Brokerbility pulled out all the stops on 2 June 2026 to celebrate its 20th anniversary milestone, hosting an exclusive dinner for members, partner insurers and trade press at private members’ club The Walbrook Club, near
Cannon Street. On the menu was a burrata starter, beef fillet rossini style main course and a cherry drenched basque cheesecake for dessert.
- Gordon Ramsay’s Bishopsgate-based, Asian inspired restaurant, Lucky Cat, is fast becoming a market favourite, recommended during many a networking natter. Insurance Times can easily see why after attending this sky-high venue with insurer Markel UK, celebrity spotting over a delectable tasting menu. The Iberico pork chop (pictured) was a standout dish from the selection.
- For a quick bite to eat in a relaxed setting, check out Caravan Covent Garden on Drury Lane – where Insurance Times caught up with Richard Tomlinson, insurance sector director at Thatcham Research. The venue’s grilled halloumi grain bowl was a flavoursome, yet light, lunchtime treat.
Since joining Insurance Times, Katie has successfully obtained a number of industry accolades. At trade body Biba's 2025 Journalist and Media Awards, for example, Katie was named the overall winner and received the Journalist of the Year trophy, alongside the Best Thought Leadership Award for her briefing article on reproductive health MGA Juniper and how insurance can be used to positively impact taboo subjects.View full Profile
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