Top International Insurance Journal Stories of 2025
The top 10 most popular international stories during 2025 covered a diverse range of topics, including the job difficulties experienced by John Neal, the ex-CEO of Lloyd’s; catastrophe losses from Hurricane Melissa; the rising cost of climate change, and the trend of declining property/casualty prices (as the cost of risk continues to increase).
Other top stories include the Lloyd’s response to the Trump administration’s “big beautiful bill” and the main risks facing businesses in 2025.
Ex-Lloyd’s CEO’s Job-Seeking Issues
Just before ex-Lloyd’s CEO John Neal was due to take up the role of president at American International Group, the insurer pulled the job and its potential $17.2 million pay package. Naturally, related articles created a lot of interest from our readers. AIG apparently pulled the offer after a story in the Wall Street Journal revealed that Lloyd’s of London was probing Neal about an alleged relationship with a Lloyd’s employee.
Here’s the top international article in 2025: Ex-Lloyd’s CEO Lost $17 Million AIG Job After Office Romance
Hurricane Melissa Triggers Catastrophe Bond in Jamaica
Coming in at number two on the list of most well-read articles was the cost to Jamaica of Hurricane Melissa, absorbed mostly by catastrophe investors and reinsurers. To avoid repeats, we’ve combined all the Jamaica-related stories. Jamaica’s $150 million cat bond was arranged by the World Bank to help provide funds to pay for extreme weather events. The property-catastrophe market is closely watching cat bonds, given their ability to erode reinsurers’ market share. Here are the top Jamaica cat bond articles:
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- Jamaica Catastrophe Bond Has Now Triggered, Government Says
- Catastrophe Bond Investors Told to Brace for Jamaica Payout
- Jamaica to Get Record $70.8M Parametric Payout for Hurricane Melissa
- Jamaica Catastrophe Bondholders Now Face Full-Trigger Event
Climate Change-Driven Insured Losses
At number three on the list of most popular international articles was Munich Re’s report on natural disasters in 2024 – as the third most expensive year on record. Describing climate change as “showing its claws” and “taking the gloves off,” Munich Re said, weather-related catastrophes were the dominant natural catastrophe in 2024 – responsible for 93% of overall losses and 97% of insured losses. “The world is getting hotter, resulting in severe hurricanes, thunderstorms and floods.” That trend is expected to continue.
Insured Losses From Natural Disasters Hit $140B as Climate Change ‘Shows Its Claws’
Lloyd’s Comments on Republican Reconciliation Bill
At fourth on the list is an article about the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Lloyd’s issued a statement in June applauding the removal of Section 899 from the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which could have led to substantial additional tax on the US income of non-US-domiciled businesses.UK businesses had viewed Section 899 as hitting them with “retaliatory tax measures.” The removal of that section stayed in the final act, which was signed into law by Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.
Lloyd’s Applauds Removal of Section 899 Tax Measure From ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
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Cayman Islands Builds Reinsurance Hub
The growth of the Cayman Islands as a reinsurance hub is examined in this article, which reveals that reinsurers from the Cayman Islands provided about $74 billion of US life insurers’ reserve credits in 2024 — more than double the level just a half-decade ago, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. However, not everyone supports the trend, which is discussed in this article, ranked at number five.
Cayman Islands Builds $74 Billion Insurance Hub That Irks Apollo Global Management
US Tariffs and Their Effect on Premium Growth
A Swiss Re report predicted that US tariffs would act to slow global economic growth by reducing trade and heightening geopolitical uncertainty – ultimately leading to decelerating growth in insurance premiums. The long-term outcome of US tariffs remains unclear.
US Tariffs Projected to Slow Global Economy and Insurance Premium Growth: Swiss Re
Former CEO of Nexus Faces Internal Probe
This article, at number eight, involves an admittedly ill-advised internal email sent by the former CEO of Nexus Underwriting, the London-based managing general agent, which is owned by Brown & Brown. Deemed “wholly inappropriate and offensive,” the email became public and Stuart Rouse had to step down from the company in September. He was replaced by Steve Hearn as group CEO. Unsurprisingly, the story gained a lot of market attention.
MGA Nexus Underwriting’s CEO Rouse Faces Internal Investigation for ‘Offensive’ Email
Re/insurance Pricing Trends Are Growing Concern
Pricing and capacity trends are always of interest to our readers, which were covered in several of the top international articles. From growing concerns about adverse reserve development to the fact that property/casualty prices are declining as the cost of risk rises – a unsustainable trend. Here are the top four stories with these themes:
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- Casualty Reinsurance Capacity Is Plentiful but Availability Crisis Could Be Looming
- An Unsustainable Trend – Declining P/C Rates and Rising Cost of Risk: Marsh’s Doyle
- Reinsurance Renewal Prices Moderate as Capacity Exceeds Cedent Demand: Brokers
- Everest Group Boosts Casualty Loss Reserves $1.7 Billion
The How-Tos of Embedded Insurance and Successful MGAs
During 2025 – and every year – Insurance Journal publishes a plethora of “viewpoint” articles, provided by industry experts, which are widely read. The top two viewpoint articles in the International section during 2025 covered embedded insurance opportunities and the secrets of successful managing general agencies.
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- Viewpoint: Insurers Risk Losing Out if They Ignore Embedded Insurance Opportunities
- Viewpoint: The Recipe for Building a Successful MGA
Top Business Risks for 2025
Allianz’s annual risk barometer edged into the top 10 of the most-popular international articles. Cyber, business interruption and natural catastrophes were ranked as the top three risks that concern global businesses, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025. Cyber incidents, such as ransomware attacks, data breaches and IT outages, was the top global risk for 2025, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top, said Allianz, in its 14th Allianz Risk Barometer which surveyed 3,778 respondents from 106 countries and territories.
Cyber, Business Interruption, Natural Disasters Listed as Top 3 Business Risks: Allianz
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