News
Winter Storm Targets 180 Million With Ice, Snow From Texas To Northeast
Widespread snow and a potentially damaging ice storm are on the table from the South into the Northeast. Here’s the very latest forecast timing and who could be affected most.
A major, widespread winter storm will hammer parts of the South, Midwest and Northeast Friday through Monday with potentially damaging ice and heavy snow for millions from New Mexico and Texas to parts of New England.
The storm has been named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel. According to The Weather Company forecasters, Fern could affect over 180 million in the U.S. with snow and/or ice, over half the nation's estimated population.
Beazley rejects Zurich takeover offer - Business Insurance
Beazley on Thursday rejected a 7.67-billion-pound ($10.3 billion) takeover offer from Zurich Insurance as materially undervaluing the UK specialty insurer, adding it was lower than another proposal…
The rejection of Zurich’s latest 1,280 pence per share proposal sent Beazley shares down 7% to 1,045 pence, but they later recovered most losses to trade 1% lower at 0937 GMT.
The stock had rallied in recent days, given the proposed offer was 56% above Beazley’s closing price before the approach was disclosed on Monday.
Beazley said it was confident in its standalone prospects and in the attractiveness of its business model, adding it was “open-minded about all options to deliver value.”
Zurich, Europe’s second-largest insurer by market value, declined to comment.
Beazley’s rejection sets the stage for a possible long battle between the companies over valuation, after the British insurer snubbed multiple approaches from Zurich.
Travelers announces AI commitment, 20% profit hike in Q4 - Business Insurance
Travelers said Wednesday it will reduce its claims call center operations from four to two this year as its investments in AI drive operational efficiencies.
The comments came during Travelers’ fourth-quarter earnings presentation, where it reported higher profit driven by higher investment income and lower catastrophe losses.
Travelers made $1.5 billion in technology investments in 2025 and is deploying AI across its business, CEO Alan Schnitzer said on a call with analysts.
The insurer has thousands of engineers, data scientists and analysts building AI and other sophisticated technologies, and dozens of generative AI tools are already in use, Mr. Schnitzer said.
More than half of all claims are now eligible for straight-through processing, with customers adopting straight-through processing about two-thirds of the time, Mr. Schnitzer said. Another 15% of all claims are processed with advanced digital tools, he said.
Last week, Travelers launched a natural language generative AI voice agent that takes first notice of loss by phone. “Early customer adoption is exceeding our expectation,” he said.
Lemonade Inc. - News - Lemonade Unveils Autonomous Car Insurance, Slashing Rates for Tesla FSD Miles by 50%
Lemonade (NYSE: LMND), the digital insurance company powered by AI and social impact, today announced the launch of Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance, a first-of-its-kind product designed specifically for self-driving cars, starting with Tesla FSD.
The new offering cuts per-mile rates for FSD-engaged driving by approximately 50%, reflecting what the data shows to be significantly reduced risk during autonomous operation. Lemonade expects further reductions as Tesla releases FSD software updates, which are anticipated to make the cars even safer over time.
The launch is the result of a technical collaboration with Tesla, giving Lemonade access to vehicle data that was previously unavailable. Data captured then feeds into Lemonade’s usage-based risk prediction models, already among the most advanced in the industry, to uniquely distinguish between autonomous and human driving, as well as predict risk based on the autonomous software version installed in the car, the precision of its sensors, and more.
“Traditional insurers treat a Tesla like any other car, and AI like any other driver,” said Shai Wininger, co-founder and president at Lemonade. “But a car that sees 360 degrees, never gets drowsy, and reacts in milliseconds can’t be compared to a human.”
InsurTech/M&A/Finance💰/Collaboration
Broker M&As fall 12% in 2025
The number of mergers and acquisitions among insurance intermediaries fell by 12% last year, despite the completion of several large deals.
There were 695 announced deals in 2025 among agents, brokers, third-party administrators and other intermediaries, according to the Chicago-based investment banking and financial consulting firm.
The pace of deals was similar to that of 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, the company said in a statement Wednesday.
“Similarities include an annual deal pace between 650 and 700 and a relatively even distribution of deals throughout the year. In fact, 2019 and 2025 are the only years when the Q4 deal volume was lower than the other quarters and December was not the busiest month for closings,” Steve Germundson, a partner at Optis, said in the statement.
AXA partners with ICEYE on extreme weather monitoring
AXA has partnered with ICEYE to add synthetic aperture radar satellite (SAR) data to AXA’s Digital Commercial Platform for monitoring floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural catastrophes.
The agreement gives AXA’s commercial clients access to near real-time satellite imagery that can be collected day or night and in poor conditions such as cloud cover, smoke, or dust. The data is intended to support earlier assessment of events and more informed decisions during and after losses.
ICEYE operates a global SAR microsatellite constellation with frequent revisit times and image resolution of about 25 centimeters. Its data is already used by government, defense, and commercial customers, including several NATO member states.
AXA plans to use the satellite data alongside other third-party datasets and analytics to identify risk earlier and reduce reliance on post-event information alone.
Helium Ventures Acquires InsurGrid, Leading Insurance Data Platform for P&C Agents
Helium Ventures, an AI-native holding company that acquires and stewards software businesses, today announced the acquisition of InsurGrid, the leading platform for insurance policy data collection and verification used by over 2,500 property and casualty insurance agents nationwide.
Founded in 2019, InsurGrid revolutionized how insurance agents collect and verify policy information by eliminating the traditional back-and-forth of emails and phone calls. The platform's carrier-agnostic technology connects to 350+ insurance carriers, enabling agents to instantly collect declaration pages, policy details, and comprehensive coverage information directly from clients' existing carriers through a simple link.
InsurGrid raised $3.4 million in pre-seed financing led by Engineering Capital, Hustle Fund, Cedana Capital, and strategic angels. Since the acquisition, the company has grown 50% year-over-year through Q4 2025 while accelerating product development—launching tools for modern agencies, insurance verification for landlords, an AI-powered policy review workspace, and enhanced APIs for automation.
AI in Insurance
AI isn’t reducing workforce costs for insurers, it’s increasing them
For years the insurance industry has repeated the same promise about AI: automate enough tasks and you reduce operating costs. But if you talk to people inside carriers, brokerages, and TPAs, a very different pattern is emerging.
Instead of lowering workforce expenses, AI is driving them up. And not because the technology is failing, but because the way we use it is out of sync with how insurance work actually gets done. A recent survey found that nearly 90% of insurance executives now identify AI as a top strategic priority, yet only about one in five have solutions running in production, which means most organizations are paying for experimentation without seeing scaled efficiency gains yet.
The myth is that automation replaces labor. The reality is that automation changes labor, usually faster than organizations are prepared for. And that gap between expectation and reality is exactly where insurers are seeing their biggest risks, operational bottlenecks, and unplanned costs.
Let’s start with the most common assumption: that AI will shrink claims teams. In practice, the opposite is happening. AI can summarize a claim file, pull loss information from unstructured documents, and even draft the first version of a communication to the insured. But every one of those AI-generated outputs requires a human to validate it.
Claims professionals tell me they are spending less time collecting information and more time auditing it. When AI is plugged into environments shaped by regulation, litigation, and strict documentation standards, nothing can be taken at face value. You speed up intake, but you add work to review, correction, and quality control. Teams are moving faster, but they are not becoming smaller.
Frank Palermo is the Chief Operating Officer of NewRocket
Commentary/Opinion
Negotiation by Design: Why Writing Beats Talking
Executive Summary
"How many times do we really use our best arguments at trial, in an environment where 1% of cases see a jury?"
That's a central question that Taylor Smith, founder and president of Suite 200 Solutions, and Cayce Lynch, national managing partner for Tyson & Mendes, ask as they flag a key obstacle holding defense teams and insurance claims professionals back from delivering written, evidenced-based demands to settle litigation.
Written, evidence-based advocacy is scientifically, empirically and pragmatically a stronger form of negotiation that yields better results for the party using it, they explain. Written, evidence-based advocacy is scientifically, empirically and pragmatically a stronger form of negotiation that yields better results for the party using it, they explain.
This article is the fourth installment of a multipart educational series, "Negotiation Reclaimed," conceived by Guest Editor Taylor Smith. Smith introduced the idea in his 2025 CM article, Taking Back Negotiation: Why Claim Professionals Must Lead the Next Chapter.
Read Part 1: Negotiation Is the Job: Reframing Defense Work in an AI-Enhanced Era
Read Part 2: The Power of the First Offer: Anchoring, Evidence and the Battle for Perception
Read Part 3: Rebuilding Negotiation Talent: Why This Skill Is Missing and How to Fix It
People
New US operations CEO named in Crawford restructuring
Crawford & Company has promoted Mike Hoberman to CEO of US operations as part of a restructuring that separates the business into two global divisions and changes its leadership structure in major markets.
Hoberman, who will report to interim president and CEO Bruce Swain, will oversee all US business lines, including loss adjusting, third-party administration, and network services. The new structure took effect on Jan. 1.
US leadership realignment
In his new role, Hoberman will be responsible for directing strategy and day-to-day execution across Crawford’s US portfolio, bringing field adjusting, specialty services, third-party administration, and network solutions under a single leadership position.
According to the company, the US leadership changes are intended to simplify reporting lines, reduce duplication, and alter how client work is managed across larger accounts and programs.
“As part of this streamlined approach, we are promoting leaders who embody our values and hold deep operational expertise. Each brings a proven track record of innovation and operational excellence. With this structure, we are advancing accountability, accelerating decisions, and strengthening collaboration in service of growth, quality, and a seamless client experience. We are especially proud that these appointments represent promotions from within Crawford,” Hoberman said.
Three senior US executives will report to Hoberman under the revised structure:
- Paul Kottler has been appointed president, US Loss Adjusting, with responsibility for US Field Operations, US Global Technical Services, and edjuster US.
- Lance Malcolm has been named president, US Network Solutions, overseeing Contractor Connection and Catastrophe Services in the US.
- Jeffrey Sickles has been promoted to president, Crawford TPA: Broadspire, and will lead all US Broadspire operations, including workers’ compensation, liability, and other third-party administration services.
For carriers, reinsurers, and self-insured organizations, the new reporting lines place multiple claims, managed repair, and TPA functions under a more consolidated US leadership layer, which may change how national programs are structured, monitored, and negotiated.
Enlyte Announces Customer and Market Operations Leadership Transition
P&C veteran Keith Higdon assumes Enlyte CMO president position as Nina Smith transitions to vice chairman role, maintaining leadership continuity
Enlyte, a P&C industry leader, has announced Keith Higdon, an accomplished industry leader with three decades of P&C experience, has assumed the role of Customer and Market Operations (CMO) president.
Higdon replaces Nina Smith who has decided to step down from her daily operational duties to serve as the company's first-ever vice chairman.
Higdon comes to Enlyte with 30 years of P&C industry experience, including leadership roles such as CEO of Mission Underwriters LLC, president of ESIS Inc., as well as senior analytics and operational roles at Chubb and Sedgwick. His background spans claims solutions, underwriting operations, analytics, customer partnerships and market strategy, making him uniquely positioned to lead the Enlyte CMO into its next phase. Higdon has worked closely with Enlyte leadership for the past year, helping evaluate new markets, refine omnichannel strategies, and optimize customer experience.
"We are thrilled to welcome Keith to the Enlyte family," said Alex Sun, Enlyte president & CEO. "He brings a deep understanding of the industry, a strong customer mindset, and the strategic perspective needed as Enlyte continues to evolve. Keith has already demonstrated tremendous value, and I look forward to the continued growth of our CMO organization under his leadership."
Awards
Four Israeli InsurTech Startups Named Promising Companies for 2026 - Insurtech Israel News
The 2026 edition of the “Promising Israeli InsurTech Startup” competition has concluded, with four startups selected as winners out of 27 Israeli insurtech startups that applied this year.
The startups selected for 2026 are:
- Settwiz – Life & health
- Caelus.Space – Claim tech
- Canotera – P&C
- Five Sigma – Claims & AI
The winners were chosen following a thorough evaluation process led by an Israeli and international judging panel, composed of senior experts from the insurance, technology, and investment sectors. The selection was based on the startups’ achievements to date, alongside a strong professional assessment of their potential to deliver meaningful breakthroughs and industry impact in 2026.
The competition is held for the third consecutive year and is jointly organized by InsurTech Israel, InsurTech Israel News, and Polisa Magazine. Over the past three years, the initiative has established itself as one of the most sought-after and respected recognitions within the Israeli insurtech ecosystem.
Kobi Bendelak, CEO of InsurTech Israel, commented: “This is the third consecutive year that we have held the Promising InsurTech Startup competition, and we consistently see how startups selected in previous years went on to achieve significant breakthroughs and make a real impact on the global insurance industry. The selection process this year was highly competitive, and the startups chosen represent an impressive combination of proven execution and strong potential for a truly breakthrough year in 2026.”
The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative Honors 24 Companies With 2025 Innovator Award
The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative® is thrilled to name the recipients of its 2025 Innovator Award, honoring 24 organizations for their exceptional leadership in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) innovation within the insurance industry and their pivotal role in guiding the AI Council.
The AI Council brings together industry leaders, innovators and technology experts to explore and advance the application of AI across the insurance ecosystem. Through collaborative dialogue and strategic guidance, the AI Council works to identify opportunities for AI-driven transformation, gain clarity on policy and regulatory concerns related to AI usage, address industry challenges, and establish best practices that will shape the future of intelligent insurance solutions. The AI Council’s inaugural meeting in 2025 marked a significant milestone in the industry’s journey toward a more connected, data-driven future.
The 2025 Innovator Award honors organizations that have shown remarkable leadership, insight and vision in guiding the AI Council’s direction. Honorees are recognized for their active participation in the Council’s inaugural meeting and their dedication to fostering innovation and partnership that will drive the industry toward a more intelligent, connected future.
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