WTW and Bupa UK announce partnership with new health insurance pricing platform
WTW has announced a new partnership with Bupa UK that will see the health insurer use Radar Live as its lead pricing platform.
The Radar Live platform uses advanced analytical methods and market-leading modelling methods to price health insurance premiums in real time, ensuring greater accuracy and personalisation depending on the customer’s individual needs.
This leads to improved pricing, greater accuracy in predicting customer claims, and improved underwriting performance. It also increases Bupa’s flexibility and agility in offering new products to customers.
Adrian Baskir, Chief Commercial Actuary at Bupa UK Insurance, said: “At Bupa, our ambition is to be the most customer-centric company in the world, and using the Radar Live platform supports that ambition by offering a more agile, personalised experience for our customers when it comes to pricing. This forms part of our transformation strategy, which is is continuing at pace so we can adapt to the changing external environment and transform Bupa to meet changing customer expectations.”
Tim Rourke, UK Head of P&C Pricing, Product, Claims and Underwriting at WTW, said: “We are delighted Bupa UK has chosen to work with WTW. By confirming Radar Live as their pricing platform of choice, Bupa is well placed to enhance its digital capability by offering cutting-edge pricing and underwriting excellence that will help build on their commitment to improved customer engagement and satisfaction.”
Sun Life renews partnership with Kansas City Royals
Sun Life U.S. has renewed sponsorship of the Kansas City Royals, a partnership first established in 2016. This partnership renewal will enhance Sun Life’s hosting opportunities by including away games, and will deepen investments in local community initiatives through the #StrikeoutDiabetes and “Fun at Bat” programs. Sun Life has worked with Royals Charities to support various local organizations that offer diabetes programs and promote health and fitness.
“We are proud to continue partnering with the Royals and look forward to new programs and supporting the Kansas City community,” said Ed Milano, vice president of Marketing. “The Royals are such a beloved instituation in this city, and their involvement with promoting health and fitness, especially for children, makes them a perfect partner for Sun Life.”
Every year Sun Life and the Royals offer the #StrikeoutDiabetes campaign, which tallies $23 for every Royals strikeout, generating thousands each year for local diabetes-related organizations. To date, #StrikeoutDiabetes has raised more than $80,000 for local chapters of the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas CIty. This year, the program has already raised more than $5,000, thanks to joint pitching efforts from the Royals starters and bullpen.
“More than 37 million Americans are said to currently have diabetes, and studies show many more have yet to be diagnosed,” said Alex Schulte, vice president of Corporate Partnerships for the Kansas City Royals. “The Royals are proud to partner with Sun Life and continue our shared dedication to enhancing wellness for people of all ages.”
Sun Life and the Royals will also be partnering on the “Fun at Bat” program, a baseball and softball education curriculum created by USA Baseball, and part of the Royals’ Crown Schools program. Fun at Bat is designed to introduce students to the games of baseball and softball to engage them in programming at the Urban Youth Academy and in local leagues.
Helvetia is developing new sales channels through the partnership between Smile and Migros Bank
Migros Bank and Smile – Switzerland’s leading online insurer – will work closely together in future to sell car insurance. The partnership will focus on customers with a car loan who are looking for the right insurance coverage in addition to financing for their new vehicle. The insurance can be concluded entirely automatically. Customers who take out car insurance with Smile via the Migros Bank website will benefit from an attractive cash-back payment, which will be credited directly to their Smile app. Customer convenience is a key part of the Helvetia strategyConvenience for customers is at the heart of the Helvetia strategy, both in terms of its own sales as well as in cooperation with partners. Martin Tschopp, Chief Customer Officer at Helvetia Switzerland, comments: “The partnership between Smile and Migros Bank is a good example of how embedded insurance can help Helvetia to increase its presence wherever insurance needs arise and thus to greatly improve convenience for customers.”
BGL Insurance and Covéa form exclusive partnership to launch motor insurance brand in 2022
Industry first ‘joint venture’ will see the two players combine to deliver motor proposition to rival other direct brands.
BGL Insurance, a leading digital distributor of personal lines insurance, has announced a new partnership with Covéa, one of the UK’s most prominent insurers. As part of the exclusive long-term ‘joint venture’, BGL and Covéa Insurance will bring a new direct insurance proposition to market next year – with the aim of creating a unique motor product that challenges the status quo, while significantly extending the customer reach of both businesses.
The collaboration will bring together the very best skills from both sides, specifically Covéa’s underwriting and claims management expertise, alongside BGL’s pricing, customer service, digital distribution and tech capabilities. The agreement builds upon Covéa and BGL’s existing strong relationship, with the insurer acting as a key panel member for several of BGL’s motor insurance brands.
Peter Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of BGL Insurance, said: “At a time when our market is about to experience a pretty significant shake-up, forming such a unique joint venture and launching a brand new motor proposition is a bold move but one that highlights the strategic growth ambitions of both businesses. Having worked closely with Covéa Insurance for many years, it is clear we have many synergies in terms of not only how we operate but also our cultural alignment – particularly when it comes to putting customers and colleagues firmly at the centre of decision making. This true partnership model certainly breaks the mould of a traditional insurer / broker relationship and I’m excited to see what next year will bring.”
Adrian Furness, CEO of Covéa Insurance, added: “We are delighted to be forging closer links with BGL Insurance, allowing us to quickly and effectively extend our motor proposition. Our teams are now working hard on the next phase which involves developing the brand, shaping the proposition for our target customers to enable a successful brand launch in 2022. Customers have extremely high expectations of their insurance provider and require a straightforward and simple experience. With our combined industry, digital and customer expertise, I’m confident that this new brand will offer a seamless end-to-end journey for customers.”
Thomas Miller Specialty, in partnership with HDI Global SE, launches marine and energy offshore capability in Singapore
Thomas Miller Specialty, a global insurance provider across a number of sectors including marine and offshore, has recruited senior marine and energy underwriter Mark Nunn as its specialist offshore underwriter in Asia Pacific.
An insurance specialist with extensive knowledge of the offshore market in Asia Pacific, Mark has worked in Singapore since 2013. Mark joins from Lloyd’s syndicate Markel International where he worked as an energy underwriter having previously worked at Marsh as a broker and client executive in both Singapore and London.
Mark is the first employee of Thomas Miller Specialty (Singapore) PTE Limited as the company looks to grow in this important market and will be based in HDI Global’s Singapore office. The appointment will enable Thomas Miller Specialty Offshore (TMSO), in collaboration with HDI Global Singapore, to offer a comprehensive risk transfer solution for Energy clients in the region.
Bernt Hellman, Managing Director, Offshore Marine & Energy, Thomas Miller Specialty, says:
“We believe it’s important to establish a permanent presence in Singapore and for the APAC region. Mark joins us as an established and trusted underwriter in the Singapore market and demonstrates our commitment to provide a strong local Offshore Marine and Energy product. We are really excited and very proud of this latest development that reinforces our relationship with HDI Global and HDI Global Specialty, which continues to go from strength to strength since 2016.”
Graham Silton, Managing Director and Principal Officer, HDI Global SE Singapore, says:
“We are very excited to launch this joint product offering and believe the Thomas Miller Specialty appointment of Mark Nunn will drive this initiative forward. Mark will work closely with Mark Mackay, Head of Energy, Eastern Region of HDI Global SE Singapore, to promote and provide tailormade account solutions for Onshore and Offshore products to our mutual clients and brokers in the APAC region.”
Deutsche Bank extends its partnership with Frieze
Deutsche Bank has announced the long term extension of its partnership with Frieze, in support of artistic excellence and the shared vision of a diverse and thriving global community of emerging artists.
For over 40 years Deutsche Bank has supported contemporary art and artists, and believes that art has a positive impact, not only on clients, visitors and staff but also on the communities in which the bank operates.
As the Global Lead Partner for Frieze for 18 consecutive years, Deutsche Bank is proud to continue this commitment to the partnership.
“Our longstanding partnership with Frieze underlines Deutsche Bank’s commitment to encouraging new and noteworthy artistic talents from across the globe”
Anna Herrhausen, Global Head of Deutsche Bank Art & Culture
Deutsche Bank’s partnership with Frieze began in 2004, based on a shared understanding of the unique role contemporary art plays in today’s globalised culture, transcending boundaries and connecting people by creating shared experiences and perspectives.
“Our collaboration with Frieze not only enables us to connect with our clients and support contemporary art worldwide, but to partner with Frieze in their mission to make the global fairs more inclusive and sustainable”
Claudio de Sanctis, Global Head of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank and CEO of Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Together with Frieze, in 2019 the bank launched the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award to support emerging filmmakers in Los Angeles. The launch of the Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship followed in 2020, to promote diversity in the arts in the UK.
“I am extremely proud of the Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship and the Los Angeles Film Award; two inclusive initiatives that ensure doors are wide open to creative talent,” de Sanctis added. “This year also sees the continuation of Art:LIVE online at Frieze London and Frieze Masters, making the fair more accessible to all by bringing it into the homes of thousands of people worldwide who cannot attend in person.”
Produced as a collaboration between Deutsche Bank and Frieze, Art:LIVE is a new online broadcast and video programme which makes expert insights about contemporary art and culture accessible to all.
HSBC and Temasek Launch Partnership to Catalyse Sustainable Infrastructure Projects in Asia
US$150 million to catalyse financing of marginally bankable sustainable infrastructure projects
Seeks to scale up to US$1 billion of loans within 5 years to support commercial development of the region’s sustainable infrastructure sector
Asian Development Bank and Clifford Capital Holdings will support the platform as strategic partners
HSBC Holdings plc (“HSBC”) and Temasek announced a partnership1 to establish a debt financing platform dedicated to sustainable infrastructure projects with an initial focus on Southeast Asia, as part of efforts to reduce climate change.
In Asia, there is a significant funding gap for sustainable infrastructure required to address challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. Many infrastructure projects in the region face varying degrees of barriers to bankability. Private capital can play a unique role in bridging this gap.
A meaningful portion of the platform’s loan portfolio will target marginally bankable, sustainable infrastructure projects, providing project development expertise, technical assistance and blended finance solutions where needed.
The platform aims to catalyse significant capital flows to the sustainable infrastructure space, deploying blended finance at scale over time to unlock more marginally bankable projects and create a tradable asset class, crowding in private and institutional investors.
HSBC and Temasek will invest up to a combined US$150 million of equity to fund loans, working alongside the platform’s strategic partners in the initial phase. Over the longer term, the ambition is to build a pipeline of projects to scale, with the platform dispensing over US$1 billion of loans within 5 years.
The Asian Development Bank (“ADB”) and Clifford Capital Holdings (“CCH”) will support the platform as strategic partners. ADB will provide various forms of assistance to the platform, including technical assistance and project development expertise, while CCH will provide its project finance expertise as well as ongoing operational mid and back office support to the platform.
Noel Quinn, Group Chief Executive of HSBC, said, “This innovative partnership aims to tackle some of the biggest barriers to financing sustainable infrastructure where it’s needed the most. Neither private nor public sector can close the financing gap alone – but by working with Temasek, the Asian Development Bank and Clifford Capital, we can deploy significant amounts of blended finance for projects in Southeast Asia that would otherwise go unfunded. Collaborations matter in the fight against climate change, and this partnership provides an impactful model for others to follow.”
Dilhan Pillay, Chief Executive Officer of Temasek International added, “As an investor committed to sustainability at our core, we are keen to explore innovative solutions to address critical infrastructure needs especially in emerging markets in Asia, that will contribute to the transition to net zero. Public funding alone will not cover the scale of climate change mitigation and transition required across Southeast Asia. By joining forces, we can catalyse our capital, multiplying impact and scaling to meet the opportunities. Partnerships like this demonstrate Temasek’s commitment to a spectrum of sustainable solutions, and highlight the urgency of action required to get us all to net zero.”
The platform will apply internationally recognised ESG best practices, including the FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label2 to the extent applicable, and in a manner consistent with the safeguards requirements pursued by international financial institutions. It will measure sustainability outcomes through the loans provided.
The platform will target renewable energy and storage, water and waste treatment and sustainable transport to help meet carbon reduction targets and build resilience to offset the impact of climate change. Based in Singapore, it aims to harness the market’s financial expertise and connectivity to scale up the development of sustainable infrastructure across Southeast Asia in time.
1 HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited’s participation in the partnership is subject to regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
2 based on the current form of the Label as published in the consultation document dated 2 June 2021 (https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/consultation-announcement-fast-infra-sustainable-infrastructure-labelling-system/ )
Ecclesiastical and UCL extend partnership to support next generation of heritage leaders
Specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance has pledged a further £72,500 to University College London (UCL) to support the development of heritage leaders.
Since 2004 Ecclesiastical Insurance has donated over £350,000 to UCL to offer scholarships that support students studying the Sustainable Heritage MSc.
The Sustainable Heritage MSc teaches heritage management and conservation best practice. The course introduces students to conservation policies, projects, methodologies and practices in the context of historic buildings, sites, landscapes and collections.
This latest donation will fund the Ecclesiastical Insurance Scholarship for a further three years within the UCL Institute of Sustainable Heritage. The scholarships cover tuition fees as well as some living and travel costs.
Students who have completed the course have gone on to take significant leadership positions in the heritage sector including at English Heritage and The Churches Conservation Trust.
Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “As the leading insurer of Grade I Listed buildings in the UK, the protection of heritage skills is hugely important to us. We’re involved in a range of projects aimed at preserving the UK’s magnificent historic places and paving the way for the creation of our future heritage. We’re delighted to continue to support the University College London’s Sustainable Heritage MSc which nurtures the next generation of heritage leaders.”
Professor May Cassar CBE from UCL said: “As the first cross-disciplinary programme to bring together outstanding students from across the heritage sector and beyond to study Sustainable Heritage, we are delighted with the continuing financial support of Ecclesiastical Insurance. These scholarships ensure that funding is not an impediment to promising students who wish to further their ambition of becoming future heritage leaders. Since 2004 we have witnessed the positive difference that Ecclesiastical has made to so many students and the wider opportunities Ecclesiastical is providing to build capacity within the heritage sector.”
Tracy Stringfellow, Chief Executive Officer at Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust and former student, said: “Without the Ecclesiastical Insurance Scholarship I would not have been in a position to fund my studies. The support from Ecclesiastical enabled me to develop my skills, learn from great academic and sector leaders, and benefit from meeting people in the heritage sector from all over the world. The program is hugely flexible so I was able to study Sustainable Heritage while working full time which was invaluable. A blend of academic studies and practical hands on experience during a two week placement in Malta, I was able to apply these learnings directly to my day to day work.”
Ecclesiastical is a proud supporter of heritage skills. The insurer sponsors The Prince’s Foundation Building Crafts Programme and Building Arts Programme and the Cathedral Workshop Fellowship (CWF), which provides a degree level qualification in stonemasonry.
Swiss Re enters partnership with BlaBlaCar and L’olivier Assurance to launch innovative digital motor product in France
Swiss Re joins forces with global leader in alternative mobility and motor insurance specialist to advance innovation in the French mobility market
Launch of BlaBlaCar Coach, an innovative app that offers drivers personalised coaching and tips for safer driving and is available with car insurance
By combining their expertise and leveraging cutting-edge technology, the partners aim to make roads safer and mobility more sustainable
Swiss Re has entered into a partnership with BlaBlaCar, the world’s leading community-based travel platform, and motor insurance specialist L’olivier Assurance, the French branch of Admiral Group. The partnership has enabled the creation of BlaBlaCar Coach, an innovative smartphone app that offers drivers personalised coaching and tips for safer driving and is available with an annual car insurance. This collaboration will advance innovation in the French mobility market, with the aim of improving road safety and making mobility more sustainable.
According to the French Road Safety Observatory, more than 70 000 people were injured in road traffic accidents in France and more than 3 200 lives were lost in 2019, with one in five victims being under 25 years of age1. Besides the tragedy of seeing lives curtailed, road accidents cost the French economy about 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
The partnership announced today has enabled the creation of BlaBlaCar Coach, an innovative smartphone app that offers drivers personalised coaching and tips for safer driving. Powered by Coloride, Swiss Re’s cutting-edge technology for driver coaching and assessment, the BlaBlaCar Coach app can be activated when a new driving journey starts. The app then analyses the driver’s conduct at the wheel, including phone usage and other distractions, without any additional equipment having to be installed. At the end of the ride, the app provides the driver with recommendations to develop a safer driving style. The solution is an essential tool for drivers seeking to improve their driving behaviour and contributes to making roads safer.
The BlaBlaCar Coach app is available with a co-branded annual car insurance named “BlaBlaCar Assurance par L’olivier“. Thanks to this, the product also leads to insurance savings for users.
Partnering for a safer and more sustainable future
Swiss Re’s vision to make the world more resilient matches with BlaBlaCar’s long-term ambition to improve road safety and reduce the environmental costs of transportation. The digital brand L’olivier Assurance was the perfect fit for this partnership. Over the years, the company has built a reputation in the market for delivering quality products at competitive rates and a track record of superior customer service. It combines agility and digitalisation expertise to deliver an unmatched customer experience to those seeking to purchase insurance.
Walter Eraud, CEO France, Belgium and Luxembourg at Swiss Re, said: “We are delighted to have the privilege to initiate this collaboration with the global leader in alternative mobility, BlaBlaCar, and an insurance partner of the calibre of L’olivier Assurance. The powerful combination of BlaBlaCar’s mobility tech expertise and reach, L’olivier Assurance’s ability to devise an attractive motor product and Swiss Re’s superior scoring and analytics capabilities have the potential to transform this important segment of the motor industry. We are excited about the product launch.“
Nicolas Brusson, co-founder and CEO of BlaBlaCar, said: “With millions of people in our community sharing cars and buses every day, BlaBlaCar has a responsibility in making the road a safer place. We have always leveraged technology to transform the way people travel. Creating a new and improved driving experience, the BlaBlaCar Coach app, together with its insurance offer, is a way to put Swiss Re and L’olivier Assurance’s expertise into practice at the service of drivers. Every driver engaged in this process will have a direct impact on their own safety and savings, and, at a larger scale, an even bigger impact on road safety and sustainability.“
Pascal Gonzalvez, CEO France at L’olivier Assurance, said: “At L’olivier Assurance, the client is always at the heart of everything we do. That is why we are very proud of joining forces with BlaBlaCar and Swiss Re for the launch of a novel and innovative product that responds to the market needs with a sustainable approach that is also good for our planet.“
1 Figures for mainland France, without overseas territories. Source: National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory, Road Safety 2019 – Results.
Νέο μέλος στο Partnership της KPMG ο Γ. Πολίτης
Η KPMG στην Ελλάδα ενισχύει και ενδυναμώνει το partnership στις Φορολογικές της υπηρεσίες εντάσσοντας έναν συνεταίρο (partner) στην οικογένειά της.
Συγκεκριμένα πρόκειται για τον Γεώργιο Πολίτη, ο οποίος διαθέτει πάνω από 15 χρόνια εμπειρίας στο χώρο των φορολογικών, λογιστικών και χρηματοοικονομικών υπηρεσιών, μεταξύ άλλων στους κλάδους της Ενέργειας, του Εμπορίου, των Υπηρεσιών, του Τουρισμού, της Εμπορίας Καυσίμων, της Ναυτιλίας, καθώς και σε Οργανισμούς του Δημοσίου. Κατά της διάρκεια της καριέρας του έχει ηγηθεί πολλών έργων ανάθεσης λογιστηρίων, μετασχηματισμού οικονομικών διευθύνσεων και φορολογικών τμημάτων, καθώς και έργων φορολογικής συμμόρφωσης, κάνοντας χρήση καινοτόμων τεχνολογικών λύσεων. Στην KPMG αναλαμβάνει Γενικός Διευθυντής στο Φορολογικό Τμήμα.
Ο Νικόλαος Βουνισέας, Senior Partner της KPMG σχολιάζοντας τις αλλαγές στην εταιρεία δήλωσε: «Είμαστε ιδιαίτερα χαρούμενοι να καλωσορίζουμε νέα στελέχη στην οικογένεια της KPMG. Σε μια συγκυρία στην οποία η χώρα μας προσανατολίζεται στην ανάπτυξη και είναι έτοιμη να υποδεχθεί την μετά-COVID εποχή, είμαι πεπεισμένος ότι ο Γιώργος με την τεχνογνωσία και την εμπειρία του θα δώσει την προσωπική του σφραγίδα στις φορολογικές υπηρεσίες της εταιρείας μας προς όφελος των ανθρώπων μας και των πελατών μας. Ευχόμαστε καλή επιτυχία στο νέο έργο του».