Insurance Level News and Press

AM Best Rating Acitivity and News

St. Joseph's Executive Director: Pipeline Initiative Exposes Younger Talent to RISKWORLD
St. Joseph's University hopes to inspire potential insurance talent with opportunities for high school students to attend RISKWORLD, said Mary Ann Cook, executive director, Maguire Academy of ...
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Source: BestWire

FERMA Leaders: Unified Europe, Prevention-First Strategy to Close Climate-Risk Gap
FERMA Chief Executive Officer Laurent Nihoul and President Philippe Cotelle spoke with AM Best TV at RIMS RISKWORLD in Philadelphia, outlining a vision centered on stronger cross-border ...
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Source: BestWire

Wisconsin Professor: Climate Shocks Push Insurers to Rethink Small-Business Coverage
Benjamin Collier, associate professor, risk and insurance, University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses research he co-authored on Hurricane Harvey, showing how severe climate events strain small ...
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Source: BestWire

Munich Re Names Next Chief Executive for Life/Health Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa
Munich Re appointed Gavin Maistry to succeed Daniel Cossette as chief executive for life and health Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Cossette will retire after 19 years with the ...
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Source: BestWire

Insurtech Porch Expands Homeowners of America to 22nd State
Porch Group Inc. subsidiary Homeowners of America has expanded geographically to Michigan, its 22nd state, where it will distribute through independent agents, according to Porch founder and Chief ...
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Source: BestWire

AM Best: Life/Annuity Balance Sheet Strength Driven by More Than Just Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio
Stephen Vincent, associate director, and David Lopes, senior industry research analyst, both of AM Best, discuss a recent Best's Special Report, which finds asset risk increases as companies shift to ...
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Source: BestWire

Best’s Commentary: Insurers Better Prepared for Rare Disease Outbreak Amid Lessons From COVID-19
Outbreaks of the Ebola virus and Andes hantavirus are putting a renewed focus on the insurance implications of rare communicable disease spreads and the need for proactive risk management, according ...
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Source: BestWire

ABIR CEO: Catastrophe Losses, Capital Shifts Reshape Global Reinsurance Landscape
John Huff, the chief executive officer of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, discussed trends shaping the global reinsurance market, including catastrophe capacity, climate risk, ...
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Source: BestWire

The Institutes Knowledge Group President: New AIAI Designation Advances Industry AI Literacy
Adam Carmichael, president, The Institutes Knowledge Group, discusses The Institutes’ new associate in insurance artificial intelligence designation and how it prepares insurance professionals to use ...
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Source: BestWire

MGA Rokstone Launches Cargo Stock-Only Program
Specialty (re)insurance managing general agent Rokstone launched a cargo stock only program it said meets the needs of the current property and transit exposures. Rokstone said in a statement the ...
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Source: BestWire

AI Panel at RIMS: AI Transforms Insurance Operations, Raises Questions on Risk
MSIG USA’s Brian Botkin, Allianz Commercial’s Melissa Hill, Gallagher Bassett’s Joe Powell, and Coalition’s Shawn Ram discuss artificial intelligence governance, accountability, bias and emerging ...
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Source: BestWire

Best's News: AM Best Finds Personal Auto, Homeowners Stabilize Despite Decline in Approved Rate Changes
AM Best Director David Blades and Associate Analyst Dylan Catania discuss a new Best's Special Report, which finds 2025 marked a significant shift back to pre-pandemic levels after years of large ...
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Source: BestWire

Aon: Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa Hardest Hit by Severe Storms, Large Catastrophe Losses May 15-20
Insurers in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa will bear the brunt of what is likely to be hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from severe storms May 15-20, according to Aon. Large hail compounded ...
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Source: BestWire

AM Best: Annuity Premium Growth Moderated in 2025
Interest rate cuts and increased competition from other income-generating products have diminished annuity growth, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by Jason Hopper, associate ...
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Source: BestWire

Standard Insurance, Pacific Guardian Life Agree to Annuities Transfer, Streamlining
Standard Insurance Co. has entered into an agreement that will see it transition its individual annuities business to affiliated company Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Co., to focus on workplace ...
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Source: BestWire

Aegon Names Westfield Insurance Exec as New Chief Human Resources Officer
Aegon appointed Jennifer Palmieri to succeed Holly Waters as chief human resources officer and member of Aegon’s executive committee, effective June 29. Waters will retire as of June 1. ...
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Source: BestWire

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Insurance Information Institute News (IIHS & HLDI)

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Insurance Journal News

People Moves: Markel Taps Talbot’s O’Donoghue to Lead Fine Art & Specie for London; Aon’s Global ReSpecialty Team Promotes Mitchell, Hires Floodflash’s Rimmer
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Markel and Aon. A summary of these new hires follows here. Markel Taps Talbot’s O’Donoghue to Lead Fine Art & Specie for London Operations Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Prep Workers, Businesses for AI Disruption
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to attempt to deal with the impacts of artificial intelligence on workers and businesses. Related: Acrisure to Cut 2,250 Employees, Citing Advances in Technology and AI The order directs the state to …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Delay in Calling Police Does Not Wreck UM Claim, WV Supreme Court Says
A West Virginia uninsured motorist policy specified that the policyholder must report an accident to police within 24 hours. But that’s not enough to negate a claim, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decided this week. The West Virginia …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Acrisure to Cut 2,250 Employees, Citing Advances in Technology and AI
Acrisure’s CEO told employees that about 2,250 of them won’t be with the company by the end of 2027. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based global broker is planning to reduce its headcount by about 11%, mostly in the U.S., said a …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

These Homeowners Got an Energy-Bill Lifeline. Trump Yanked It Back
In late 2024, Gretchen Holloway was approved for a new federally funded program that promised to cut her $900 utility bills by helping repair her nearly century-old home. For years, the retired teacher in Valley, Alabama, had been trying to …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

OSHA Has 6 Inspectors for 60,000 West Virginia Workplaces
When two workers died last month in a violent chemical reaction at Ames Goldsmith Catalyst Refiners near Charleston, federal records showed the facility had previously been cited for safety violations in 2018. But that doesn’t mean inspectors had regularly checked …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

New York Issues Cybersecurity Tips for a ‘Heightened Threat’ Climate With AI
Citing a need for the financial services industry to be prepared for increased cybersecurity threats, New York’s regulator has issued new guidance. The guidance from the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) identifies risk management and compliance efforts …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Judge Refuses to Delay Civil Trial Over Fatal Baltimore Bridge Collapse
A federal judge on Wednesday refused to postpone a trial that is scheduled to start next month for civil claims stemming from the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, rejecting a request for a delay by companies involved …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

US P/C Insurers Post Biggest Q1 Underwriting Profit in 25 Years
The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry posted another record in the first quarter of 2026, with a combined ratio of 89.5—before policyholder dividends—standing as the best first-quarter underwriting result in at least 25 years. The insight comes from S&P Global Market …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Vermonters to Vote on Equal Protection Amendment to State Constitution
Vermont voters will have the chance to weigh in on another amendment to the state’s constitution this fall. The proposal, which got a final sign-off from the House last Wednesday, is aimed at ensuring all people are treated equally under …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Ebola Outbreak Likely Started Months Ago, Spread Undetected: WHO
The Ebola outbreak probably started months ago in central Africa and spread undetected until a super-spreader event in early May, possibly a funeral, World Health Organization officials said. The rare Bundibugyo strain circulated for “a couple months” before being identified …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Satellite Images Show Persian Gulf Oil Slicks Growing During War
Ecologists are concerned that the war in the Middle East risks creating an environmental disaster, as satellite images show that the number of oil slicks in the Persian Gulf has increased significantly since the beginning of the conflict in the …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Shell in Top Dutch Court Fight Over Call to Slash Emissions
Shell Plc is facing off with climate activists at the top Dutch court over demands for legally enforceable emissions cuts on Europe’s biggest oil and gas company. The Netherlands branch of Friends of the Earth, Milieudefensie, is try to convince …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Ohio Man Sentenced for Causing $860K in Computer Fraud Losses
A 36-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced for computer fraud after causing more than $860,000 in losses, Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced. Maxwell Schultz, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 18, 2025. Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

People Moves; Church Mutual Names Kim as CFO, Promotes Schmeltzer to VP of Underwriting, Religious Markets
Church Mutual announced several leadership appointments to support its continued growth and operational focus. The company announced Daniel Kim has joined the company as senior vice president and chief financial officer, reporting to president and CEO Alan Ogilvie. Kim brings …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

US Finalizes Easement for Dakota Access Crude Oil Pipeline
The US Army Corps of Engineers finalized an easement for a stretch of the Dakota Access pipeline that passes under a North Dakota lake, ending a years-long environmental review of the hotly contested oil conduit. The record of decision issued …
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

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