Weblog - 30 September 2010

Our online readers went claims crazy this week, clicking on the story about a record £13.75m motor claim in their droves. As bodily injury continues to make headlines, expensive claims payouts are a sensitive subject for insurers.

This was reflected elsewhere in the top 10 with news that bodily injury had caused Esure to plummet to a £14.2m loss, and IAG UK’s chief executive Neil Utley’s disappointment over Equity Red Star’s results – hit by, you’ve guessed it, bodily injury.

Elsewhere online, the ongoing Quinn saga continues to pique interest, with the story that the troubled Irish insurer could be broken up by its administrators taking the second spot.

News of people moves is as popular as ever, with unconfirmed suggestions that Aviva group boss Andrew Moss might leave the group next year, taking a high spot. It has also been reported that Aviva chairman Lord Sharman is on the way out. Take a look at www.insurancetimes.co.uk/insight for an exclusive report on Lord Sharman’s record at the country’s biggest insurer, and expert predictions over who might replace him.

The thorny, and timely, issue of solicitors’ professional indemnity also proved to be of great interest to online readers, who rushed to read our feature on the site the day before it appeared in print.

Finally, some good news: brokers’ acquisitions are hotting up again, with the news that Oval has purchased media broker O’Neill & Bramwell.

Online top 10

1. Insurer in record £13.75m motor payout

2. Quinn “could be broken up”

3. World’s ten biggest disasters

4. Bodily injury storm knocks Esure in £14.2m loss

5. Brit announces new appointments

6. Moss, not Sharman, to quit?

7. Oval hits acquisition trail again

8. AIB confirms Quinn bid

9. Utley “extremely disappointed” with Equity Red Stars full year results

10. Darkest before the dawn