Sitting between small enterprises and large corporates, mid-sized firms occupy a “sweet spot” of vulnerability, according to Kristina Talkowski (pictured), SVP, commercial middle market at Nationwide. Talkowski said these firms are large enough to face complex risks, litigation, and regulatory scrutiny, but often lack the in-house risk-management infrastructure of larger organizations.
Author: Awais
WHITE HOUSE/EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTNational Security Advisor/Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, National Security Council (NSC)Marco RubioDirector, Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP)VacantDirector, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)Russ VoughtU.S. Trade Representative, Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)Jamieson GreerDirector, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)Michael KratsiosDirector, Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR)VacantDEPARTMENT OF STATESecretary of StateMarco RubioPermanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations, U.S. Mission to the United NationsMike WaltzSenior Official, Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious FreedomJeremy LewinSenior Bureau Official and Acting Global AIDS Coordinator, Bureau of Global…
Los Angeles and the U.S. Southwest are set for a second record heat wave in two weeks as temperatures soar, potentially straining electric grids, melting snowpack and raising health risks. Tuesday’s high in downtown Los Angeles is forecast to reach 97F (36C), possibly climbing to 98F by Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc. said temperatures may rise as high as 99F, which would tie March 29, 1879, for the warmest March reading on record. Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings span parts of Nevada, Arizona and California, extending to San Francisco, with temperatures forecast to…
Howden, the London-based insurance broking group, announces leadership appointments and regional structure changes, aiming to better serve clients and insurer partners. Howden said the changes will more closely align expertise and shape the business to bring all of its growing capabilities and talent to clients across regional borders. Howden’s International Growth Markets (IGM) division, led by Sonia Caamaño since 2023, has built and scaled fast-growing businesses, delivering 16% per annum average organic growth over the past three years and preparing them for integration into their regional structures, the company said. As a result of the success of this approach, the…
The shift, tied to proposed reforms in Florida, could significantly reshape how commercial property risks are placed in the state. Sean Lorey (pictured), vice president and property broker at Jencap, said wholesale brokers and their retail partners are already preparing for a surge in submissions if the changes proceed as expected.
DUAL Group announced the the appointment of Ed Ashby as chief executive officer, DUAL North America, effective March 23. Ashby will lead the U.S. business from New York, reporting to Richard Clapham, CEO, DUAL Group. Ed Ashby Ashby joins from Axis, where he was chief commercial officer. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at QBE, including head of global distribution, North America and head of credit and surety. He brings 30 years of experience in the U.S. market, having begun his career in the UK. Clapham said Ashby will “focus on expanding our offering for our U.S. broker network…
As drought tightens its grip on South Texas, city leaders in Corpus Christi are expected to deliver what could be the most sobering update yet on the region’s water supply outlook. At Tuesday’s city council meeting, officials are expected to present new modeling that outlines a range of potential futures for the city’s water supply — including scenarios that could push the city closer to a Level 1 water emergency sooner than previously anticipated. That would force water customers to reduce their overall water use by 25% or face extra fees, according to the city’s March 2025 drought contingency plan.…
The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Chicago, Illinois-based commercial bakery for repeatedly exposing employees to safety hazards after a worker suffered a broken arm in September 2025 when clearing dough from a machine while working on the production line. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Alpha Baking Co. Inc. with repeat violations for lack of lockout tagout training, failing to lockout a machine during servicing, and other hazards related to unguarded machines. The agency also cited the employer for failing to train employees in electrical work, implement safety-related work practices and use personal protective equipment when…
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announced Matthew Tapp as deputy commissioner of its Consumer Protection Division. Tapp will oversee the division, which helps Texans resolve insurance questions and complaints and protects consumers by overseeing agent and adjuster licensing. The Consumer Protection Division also administers TDI’s disaster response program and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association ombudsman program. Last year, Consumer Protection staff answered more the 126,000 consumer calls and resolved over 19,600 consumer complaints. The division also activated disaster recovery response efforts after the Southeast Texas tornadoes, Central and North Texas storms, and flooding events in the Rio Grande Valley and…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a proposal to scrap the requirement for companies to report their earnings every quarter and giving them the option to share results twice a year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The proposal could be published as soon as next month, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter, adding that regulators are in talks with major exchanges to discuss how their rules may need to be adjusted. The SEC will vote on the proposal once it is published, after a public comment period which typically lasts at least 30…
James Cleary will step down from the post on June 30, but stay on as an adviser to the company through the end of the year. He’s the second finance chief of a drug distributor to announce their retirement this month.
A Utah jury on Monday convicted real estate agent Kouri Richins, 35, of aggravated murder after prosecutors said she poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, to collect millions in life insurance she had secretly taken out in his name – then wrote a children’s grief book to disguise her role in his death.
US-headquartered insurance holding company W. R. Berkley Corporation has continued to expand its use of its Lifson Re collateralized reinsurance sidecar through 2025, with written premiums ceded to the sidecar rising to $494 million, the highest level the company has recorded to date.For 2026, the Lifson Re P&C vehicle appears set to maintain its momentum, holding $418 million in equity with its 32.5% share remaining unchanged. This follows a significant 2025 capitalisation of $418 million, which marked the vehicle’s largest capital raise at the time. At the start of 2025, W. R. Berkley also increased the quota share cession rate…
Three Tennessee plaintiffs, including two minors, sued Elon Musk’s xAI on Monday, alleging that it knowingly designed its Grok image generator to let people create sexually explicit content by using real photos of others. The lawsuit, filed in the San Jose, California federal court, is seeking class-action status for people in the United States who were “reasonably identifiable” in sexualized images or videos generated by Grok based on real images of themselves. The artificial intelligence company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. After an outcry over sexually explicit content generated by the chatbot, xAI said in…