Paris-based reinsurer SCOR announced a series of senior appointments across its Global Markets and Finance and R&D teams, both part of its SCOR Global Life division.

Between 2008-2017, the Czech insurance industry grew in terms of gross written premiums (GWP) by EUR 836 million (+ 16.5%). Overall, the market increased on all main business lines, with the exception of MTPL, which dropped EUR 6 million (- 0.7%) by the end year.

In 2018, the Uzbek insurance market went up by 76.31% y-o-y in local currency, and by 79.01% in euro, due to a more favorable exchange rate at the end of 2018, according to the market data, provided by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic.

The entire Lithuanian insurance market totaled about EUR 878 million at the end of 2018, 11% more y-o-y, according to the year-end figures recently published on the Central Bank website.

In 2018, Tajik insurers generated TJS 234.2 in GWP (EUR 21.68 million), the market decreased both in local currency (-0.7%) and in euro (-2.76%), according to market data published by the National Bank of Tajikistan.

On February 19, 2019, Phillip GRONEMEYER was appointed General Director of Allianz in Russia, and Svetlana AMSHANNIKOVA became the new General Director of Allianz Life. Previously both posts were held by Nikolay KLEKOVKIN, according to a press release of the Group.

Life GWP in 2018, according to preliminary data, increased by 32.8% to RUB 478 billion, and paid claims in the sector went up to RUB 73.4 billion (+37.5%), Igor YURGENS, the President of the All-Russian Insurance Association (ARIA) announced.

Climate risks have always produced high impact events, causing material and human losses that often have remained in collective memory as reference points. On the other hand, cyber risks are just emerging, but they are already demonstrating a potentially catastrophic impact which still needs to be better understood and assessed.

Under the strong pressure put by the technological evolution, the motor insurance business is rapidly changing, both in operational terms and, most visible, in the way insurers are interacting with their customers. Step by step, the insurers' relationship with customers evolves from simply indemnifying insureds for the losses suffered because of road incidents, to helping them prevent incidents and rapidly recover after the accidents that couldn't be avoided.

Austrian group UNIQA - announced its FY 2018 business increased by 0.3% y-o-y to EUR 5.31 billion. "The solid growth in P&C insurance and health insurance compensated for the decline in life insurance premiums caused by the planned decrease in single premiums in international business", the company pointed out in a statement.

UNIQA has around EUR 700-800 million at its disposal to invest in new acquisitons, InsurTech and Fintech. The Group won't expand its business in new countries but will invest instead in the CEE markets where it is already active.

Adriatic Slovenica's rating was upgraded following the completion of the acquisition process made by Generali Group over the Slovenian insurer. The decision comes after Adriatic Slovenica's Fitch rating was set to Rating Watch Positive (RWP) in May 2018.

The Government of Republic of Srpska has established a Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Insurance Companies. The proposed articles will include changes in insurers' internal organization, higher amounts of founding capital required, as well as changes in administrative procedures.

French insurer AXA announced its 2018 gross revenues have crossed the EUR 100 million border reaching EUR 102.87billion (vs.EUR 98.55 billion in 2017) while the year-end net income compressed two-thirds to EUR 2.14 biliion.

Reinsurer Swiss Re announced it generated a full-year net income of USD 421 million in 2018. The result includes estimated large claims of USD 3.0 billion, net of retrocession and before tax, which significantly affected both Property & Casualty Reinsurance (P&C Re) and Corporate Solutions' earnings.

Global reinsurer Swiss Re informed Anette Bronder has been appointed Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the Group Executive Committee, effective 1 July 2019, succeeding Thomas Wellauer who will be retiring at the end of June.

The Chair of the Financial Supervision Commission Karina KARAIVANOVA is leaving the post three years earlier after she resigned on February 19 ahead of taking the position as the country's representative at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on March 1. She was nominated by the Cabinet to the post in December 2018.

Serbia was one of few CEE insurance markets where the 2008 economic crisis was tackled with little sacrifice to market growth. The industry grew to EUR 195 million (+33%) from 2008 to 2017.

The number of disputes between insurers and customers has raised mainly due to the low degree of customers' understanding over their insurance products, an analysis over the property insurance market recently published by Bank of Lithuania says.

After almost 20 years in the positions of member and President of the GRAWE Hrvatska Management Board, Igor PURETA will leave the company at the expiration of his mandate, on April 2. He will be replaced by Natasa KAPETANOVIC, member of the Management Board since 2010.