The following news stories were curated and condensed by the Digital Insurance team.
Roundup: The Hartford’s new hire; Italy’s first try-before-you-buy-program
August 5, 2021 7:15 AM
The Hartford's new hire
The Hartford appointed Claire Burns as its new chief marketing and communications officer. Burns will take over the role on Sept. 1. She succeeds Kathleen Bromage, who is the current chief marketing and communication officer and also the head of Hartford Next, a transformation initiative. Bromage will remain in an advisory role and continue to oversee Hartford Next through the end of the year. “Claire’s outstanding industry experience and proven track record of achieving results position her well to lead marketing and communications for our iconic brand in an increasingly digital marketplace,” said Christopher Swift, chairman and CEO, in a press release. “She is a strategic, visionary leader who is well-aligned with The Hartford’s culture and values, and her customer-focused mindset will serve The Hartford well as we continue to elevate our brand and reputation to drive business outcomes.”
Hippo announces Inspection Protection; goes public
Insurtech Hippo announced the launch of Inspection Protection, a protection plan for repairs of qualifying structural systems to issues that were missed by a home inspector. Inspection Protection can cover up to $100,000 in repairs for $350 dollars in most homes and can be purchased by anyone in the transaction process, including the buyer, seller or real estate agents. “Inspection Protection brings a much-needed innovation to the home buying process by protecting the new homeowner while also supporting home sellers," said Daniel Blanaru, Hippo’s chief growth officer, in a press release. "Developed based on insights from our own customer base, it's the first-ever product to offer this kind of protection to consumers around home inspections. We envision a world where every listing comes with Inspection Protection as it instills confidence into the transaction and creates a better experience for everyone involved." Hippo also recently completed its business combination with Reinvent Technology Partners and went public on Aug. 3.
Great American Insurance Group launches Pomi for brokers, agents
Great American Insurance Group’s Accident & Health Division launched Pomi, a platform for brokers and agents to click, quote and bind the majority of their Accident and Health policies. Brokers will have constant access and quick turnaround with Pomi’s “click and bind” method for camps, daycares, K-12 schools and youth sports coverage. “The youth sports A&H integration into the portal is part of our ongoing push for continuous improvement,” said Divisional President Jim Slate. “Our goal is to help brokers by providing a fast, modern and convenient solution. Now, even last-minute requests for coverage can be handled quickly without waiting for an underwriter. So, when a coach needs coverage for a tournament the very next day, our appointed brokers can fulfill the request in under three minutes. It’s never been easier.”
Linear Assicurazioni partners with Cambridge Mobile Telematics
Linear Assicurazioni is partnering with Cambridge Mobile Telematics to launch Italy’s first “Try-Before-You-Buy program.” The Linear Drive & Save app collects driving information for five weeks before offering a discount of up to 15 percent. “We are delighted to work with CMT, their expertise and technical capabilities demonstrate mobile telematics is a promising solution for the Italian insurance market," said Andrea Rapetti, CEO of Linear Assicurazioni, in a press release. “The Linear Drive & Save app enables good drivers to demonstrate they deserve to pay less for their car insurance.”
Genpact joins Guidewire PartnerConnect
Guidewire Software announced that Genpact joined Guidewire PartnerConnect as a Solution partner. Genpact’s add-on will allow insurers to create and assign claims to Genpact for claims servicing, access updates within ClaimCenter, receive and send claims and documents to and from Genpact, reduce cycle times and free up claims professionals. “We welcome Genpact as our latest Guidewire PartnerConnect Solution partner and are pleased to offer our shared customers access to its Ready for Guidewire add-on,” said Neil Betteridge, vice president, strategy at Guidewire Software, in a press release. “Policyholders have begun to expect digital claims inspection options from insurers. With Genpact’s claims solutions delivered seamlessly through Guidewire, our shared customers can easily offer these options to their claimants, while also improving their claims processing efficiency.”
InsureZone joins HawkSoft's API partner program
InsureZone joined HawkSoft’s API Partner program that has an integration between InsurZone’s commercial rating program and HawkSoft. A customer of both companies can pull application material from HawkSoft to InsurZone to create completed commercial applications. "InsureZone has worked hard over the past few years to find partners that are committed to helping agencies grow their operations while increasing operational efficiency, and the Partner API from HawkSoft is a significant jump in the same direction," said John Pergande, CEO of InsureZone, in a press release. "Our team constantly looks to enhance the value of our software and improve the user experience to reduce manual work. This integration with HawkSoft empowers agencies to dramatically reduce costs and increase efficiencies."
Insure Homes Holding invests in StrucSure Home Warranty
Milestone Partners announced that Insure Homes Holding LLC completed its investment in StrucSure Home Warranty, LLC and affiliated insurances and reinsurances. "We are looking forward to our partnership with Milestone and the Insure Homes team,” said Jerry Thompson, CEO and founder of StrucSure, in a press release. “Having served new-home builders and their customers for over two decades, the opportunity to better serve these clients through enhanced insurance offerings entrenches StrucSure as a key provider in the growing new home market."