Business Moves: Specialist Risk Group Acquires Ecclesia’s Dutch and Belgian Operations; Optio Completes Purchase of UK MGA Custodian Management
Specialist Risk Group Acquires Ecclesia’s Dutch and Belgian Operations Specialist Risk Group (SRG), the London-based global insurance intermediary, announced it has completed the acquisition of German broker Ecclesia’s businesses in the Netherlands and Belgium. Originally announced in January 2025, this …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 4:25 PM |
People Moves: Liberty GTS Names Remsen Head of East, Americas; Black Named National Property Leader at Amwins; Tasse to Head Amwins Underwriting Growth
Liberty GTS Appoints Remsen Head of East in the Americas Region Liberty Global Transaction Solutions (GTS), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance, promoted Jason Remsen to head of East, Americas. He will be based in New York City. Remsen has experience …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 4:06 PM |
People Moves: BHSI Launches Program Business in Canada Led by Tran; Aspen Promotes Cushway as Head of Int’l and UK Casualty Insurance, in New Role
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Aspen Insurance Holdings. A summary of these new hires follows here. BHSI Launches Program Business in Canada Led by Tran Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 3:37 PM |
Senate Confirms Anti-DEI Stalwart Lucas to Second Term at EEOC
The Senate confirmed Andrea Lucas to another term as commissioner of the country’s workplace civil rights agency, demonstrating firm Republican support for her efforts to root out diversity programs, roll back protections for transgender workers and prioritize religious rights in …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 3:17 PM |
United Risk Acquires Verita CSG From WTW; Rebrands as Verist With Chang as CEO
United Risk has acquired specialized property/casualty managing general agent Verita CSG, Inc. from global risk advisor WTW and rebranded the venture as Verist LLC. Industry veteran Michael Chang will become CEO of Verist, now based at 50 Rockefeller Plaza in …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 3:04 PM |
How an Alleged Ponzi Scheme Left Investors and Politicians in the South Reeling
CEDARTOWN, Ga. (AP) — A federal receiver is on the hunt to recover $140 million lost in an alleged Ponzi scheme that benefited some Republicans in the top ranks of their party in Georgia and Alabama. He’s looking to claw …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 2:14 PM |
California Wildfire Burns 65,000 Acres in Los Padres Forest, Prompts Evacuations
A wildfire in California has prompted evacuation orders and threatened hundreds of structures. The wildfire has grown to 65,062 acres, and was only 3% contained. Firefighters have been battling the Gifford fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 2:07 PM |
Mississippians Have Little Time Left to Intervene in Gas Pipeline Proposal
Mississippians have until Tuesday to intervene in a proposal for a natural gas pipeline that would span nearly the full width of the state. The pipeline, called the “Mississippi Crossing Project,” would start in Greenville, cross through Humphreys, Holmes, Attala, …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:54 PM |
USI Acquires Oklahoma’s Rogers Insurance Center
USI Insurance Services announced the acquisition of Miami, Oklahoma-based Rogers Insurance Center. Founded in 1997, Rogers Insurance Center is an independent brokerage firm specializing in commercial and personal risk insurance programs. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Rogers Insurance …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:44 PM |
Wisconsin Paper Manufacturer Cited for Safety Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an Appleton, Wisconsin paper products manufacturer for allegedly exposing employees to dangerous energy and machine guarding hazards after an employee suffered two finger-tip amputations. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:39 PM |
Texas Senate Passes Bill to Ban THC, Setting Up Showdown with House
The Texas Senate on Friday approved its second attempt to ban hemp-derived THC, setting up a showdown with the House, where hemp industry members say they’ll be getting more support. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock passed the …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:27 PM |
Crane Provider to Pay $525K After Workers Used Racial Slurs, Displayed Nooses
TNT Crane & Rigging, Inc., one of the largest crane service providers in North America, will pay $525,000 and furnish other relief to settle a racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:24 PM |
Chemours, DuPont, Corteva Settle New Jersey PFAS Claims for $875 Million
Chemours, DuPont and Corteva have agreed to pay $875 million over 25 years to the State of New Jersey to settle environmental claims including pollution linked to PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” the companies said on Monday. Lawsuits accusing major chemical …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:23 PM |
Berkshire Insurance Units Report Lower Q2 Operating Income Overall
GEICO was the only one of Berkshire Hathaway’s major property/casualty reporting divisions to post higher underwriting profit in the second quarter of 2025. But a 2% rise in underwriting profit for the personal auto insurance operation was not enough to …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:17 PM |
High Noon Recalls Vodka Seltzers Mislabeled as Energy Drinks
High Noon announced a recall of vodka seltzer drinks that it says were mislabeled as Celsius energy drinks, according to a posting on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website. “Consumption of the liquid in these cans will result in …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 1:04 PM |
No Major Impact Reported as Small Earthquake Shakes New Jersey-New York Area
A small earthquake rattled the New York metropolitan area Saturday night. The U.S. Geological Survey said the tremor had a magnitude of 3.0. It hit in the New Jersey suburb of Hasbrouck Heights, less than 8 miles (13 kilometers) west …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 11:12 AM |
EU Court Rules Against Environmentalists Trying to Block Spanish Wind Farms
The European Court of Justice on Friday dealt a blow to environmental groups trying to stop wind farms from being built in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region, in a ruling affecting billions of euros of investment. Companies developing wind farms in …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 10:04 AM |
South Africa Is Considering Flood Insurance for Large Cities
South Africa is studying whether some of its largest cities should take out flood insurance after a series of disasters in recent years led to bailouts from the government. The insurance being considered is parametric, a type of cover that …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 9:34 AM |
UK’s FCA Says Lenders Face Minimum £9 Billion Bill on Car Loans
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority will consult on a redress scheme to guide firms on how they should compensate motor finance customers that were missold car loans, which it estimates could leave such lenders on the hook for at least …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 9:11 AM |
People Moves: AAA – The Auto Club Group Adds to Executive Team
AAA – The Auto Club Group (ACG), headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, added three senior leaders. Vincent Fusco joined ACG as executive vice president, chief distribution officer. Fusco will oversee insurance and direct sales, including those of Michigan-based insurance companies Meemic …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 7:00 AM |
SEC Chair Lays Out Sweeping Plans to Accommodate Crypto
The head of the U.S. securities regulator unveiled sweeping plans to overhaul capital markets regulations on Thursday to accommodate cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based trading, in a major win for the digital asset industry, which has long pushed for tailored rules. Securities …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 5:05 AM |
Tesla Must Pay $243 Million Over Fatal Autopilot Crash
Tesla Inc. was told to pay $243 million in a lawsuit over a 2019 Autopilot crash in Florida that killed a young woman and seriously injured her boyfriend, the first significant court loss for the automaker in litigation related to …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 5:02 AM |
Developer Bets on Mid-Class Rentals in Luxury-Obsessed Miami
A Spanish developer is planning an $880 million workforce housing project in Miami that would include more than 4,000 apartments, childcare, and even a test kitchen — an ambitious bid to offer below-market housing in a city known for ultra-luxury …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 5:01 AM |
In Commuters’ Wurst Nightmare, Hot Dog Spill Shuts Highway
SHREWSBURY, Pa. (AP) — A truckload of hot dogs spilled across a Pennsylvania interstate Friday after a crash that briefly clogged the heavily traveled artery in both directions. Crews were stuck with a job they did not relish — rolling …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 5:00 AM |
Marsh McLennan Acquires Olympic Insurance Agency in California
Marsh McLennan Agency acquired Olympic Insurance Agency in a Simi Valley, California. All Olympic employees, including principals Don and Bob Barberie, will remain working out of their existing Simi Valley office. Olympic primarily provides business insurance, employee benefits and personal …
POSTED AUGUST 04, 2025 5:00 AM |