IGI’s premium income has almost doubled since it listed in 2020, but how can growth still be achieved in a soft market?

President and CEO Waleed Jabsheh tells Behind the Headlines that there is still fertile ground to expand its ‘relatively small’ reinsurance portfolio, and that the company is targeting specialty treaty business.

But as the soft pricing cycle ramps up, the executive said that he is prepared to walk away from inadequately priced business, and underwriting profitability will always come first.

He explained that the company’s attitude is not top line driven, and he has no intention of deploying capital ‘for the sake of it’.

Plus, Insurance Insider’s Sam Casey explains what is fuelling the increasing interest in the active assailant market. 

What’s driving the wave of shifting ownership structures in the Lloyd’s market?
The M&A cycle underway at Lloyd’s is reshaping the landscape, with new models emerging. One recent example is the combination of a mortgage and Lloyd’s specialty insurer, following Radian’s $1.7bn acquisition of Inigo.

Radian CEO Rick Thornberry describes it as a “winning combination,” offering non-correlating exposure and an outlet for excess capital. Meanwhile, Inigo CEO Richard Watson is preparing to release the firm’s “second album” – this time with permanent capital backing rather than the uncertainty of private equity.

Plus, Insurance Insider’s Rebecca Perkins unpacks the dynamics in the aviation market ahead of crucial Q4 renewals.

How does Lloyd’s plan to secure its future as a leading global marketplace?

Lloyd’s chair, Sir Charles Roxburgh, joined the market in May with a full in-tray—most notably, the task of appointing the next CEO. Now, with a fresh leadership team in place, he is working alongside CEO Patrick Tiernan to cement Lloyd’s position at the forefront of the insurance world.

Roxburgh told Behind the Headlines that he is leveraging decades of consulting experience and nearly nine years at the top of the Treasury to demonstrate to governments and regulators the vital role Lloyd’s plays in the global economy. Speaking at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo, he emphasized that Lloyd’s continues to champion innovation and must stay aligned with major economic shifts, including the rise of AI.

He also reflected on his work during the reconstruction and renewal process in the 1990s—a period he describes as a truly “existential crisis” for the market.

In this episode’s news discussion, Insurance Insider editor Fiona Robertson shares the key takeaways from the reinsurance conversations in Monte Carlo.

What’s next for the reinsurance market as Monte Carlo approaches?

Conference season is here, and reinsurers are preparing to descend on Monte Carlo for the annual Rendezvous de Septembre — the traditional starting gun for 1 January renewal discussions.

In this week’s Behind the Headlines, Aon Reinsurance Solutions International CEO Alfonso Valera says an influx of reinsurance capital has tipped the scales firmly in buyers’ favor. His colleague, Steve Hofmann, CEO of Americas, highlights the resilience of reinsurer performance, with carriers absorbing the major California wildfire loss and still reporting underwriting profits.

Plus, Insurance Insider US director of research Amit Kumar breaks down Sompo’s $3.5bn acquisition of Aspen in our news review.

What happens when a global broker network decides to fill a gap in the London market itself?

Assurex Global is a worldwide network of over 100 independent brokers, placing around $50bn of premium. Partners in the network pump about $4bn of premium into the London market, and according to CEO and president Dean Hildebrandt, the ongoing consolidation in the London wholesale space had created a “void”.

This is why Assurex has opted to create its own London wholesaler, AG London, the subject of the latest episode of Behind the Headlines.

AG London president Will Ripley explained that AG London’s model means it won’t be competing with its distribution partners in domestic markets—an advantage in the current climate.

And in our news digest, Insurance Insider reporter Abbie Day explains why trade credit insurers are flooding into Lloyd’s.

What does it take to turn a family-run insurance group into a global powerhouse?

That’s the question HW Kaufman is tackling head-on. The parent company of RB Jones and Burns & Wilcox has global ambitions—and it’s brought in international CEO Paul Greensmith to lead the charge.

In this episode of Behind the Headlines, Greensmith shares how he’s driving strategic growth in key markets like London and Dubai, and why he’s doubling down on lead underwriting rather than playing in the commoditized follow space. He also hints at the potential for a future Lloyd’s platform.

Plus, following a wave of disruption in the broking world, Insurance Insider’s Adam McNestrie unpacks Howden’s bold play for the US retail market.

What’s next for one of Lloyd’s largest syndicates as it sets its sights beyond London?

Chaucer is a long-established force in the London market, with its flagship Syndicate 1084 underwriting more than $2bn in business—making it one of the largest at Lloyd’s. Now under the leadership of CEO Richard Milner, who took the helm last year, the China Re-owned group is shaping a bold new five-year strategy. With two-thirds of Chaucer’s business already written outside London, Milner reveals that further international growth is firmly on the agenda—whether through opening new offices or pursuing M&A opportunities.

Plus, Insurance Insider’s Adam McNestrie breaks down how Gallagher’s rapid rise is shaking up the dominance of the Big Three brokers.

How is The Fidelis Partnership choosing to launch into new insurance classes as it rapidly expands? 

The Pine Walk MGA platform has grown significantly in recent years and now writes over $900mn of business. As The Fidelis Partnership continues to diversify its portfolio, deputy group CUO and CEO of insurance Richard Coulson told Behind the Headlines that the company is "agnostic" about whether it enters new classes via a Pine Walk MGA or through its central MGU. With its flexible capital structure—including Fidelis Insurance Group, third-party capacity deals, and its new Lloyd’s Syndicate—Coulson explains that Fidelis has a range of options to link capital with underwriting talent. 

Plus, Insurance Insider's Rachel Dalton explains the significance of CRC Group’s acquisition of Atrium.

Is the ransomware threat really getting worse – or just more visible?
A spree of cyber attacks targeting major UK retailers has thrown ransomware back into the spotlight. But according to Tom Draper, UK managing director at Coalition, it’s not that threats are rising — it’s that companies are operating in an increasingly complex cyber crime ecosystem.

In Behind the Headlines, Draper unpacks the key challenges facing cyber underwriters today, from softening rates to the lingering effects of last year’s CrowdStrike outage.

Plus, in this week’s news rundown, Insurance Insider’s Fiona Robertson breaks down how the Willis Re talent rebuild is gaining momentum.

Is the huge growth experienced by the MGA sector run out of steam?

Not so, according to Danny Maleary, CEO of MGA incubator Pro MGA Global Solutions.

Malearly told Behind the Headlines that there are major opportunities for MGA expansion in markets where the model is comparatively immature, such as Europe and the Middle East.

With decades of experiencing helping underwriters to found and grow coverholders, Maleary also lays out what it takes to build a successful MGA, and the challenges underwriters face striking out on their own.

Plus, Insurance Insider’s Rachel Dalton explains why a surge of M&A activity at Lloyd’s could be on the horizon.