Zurich plans new capacity deals at Biba conference
Zurich’s UK retail arm is heading into the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference with a full pipeline, as the insurer works through a number of capacity deals and prepares to announce its next one later this month.
David Nichols, UK head of retail at Zurich, said the insurer is looking to grasp the opportunities of e-trade, and confirmed that further capacity arrangements sit in two distinct areas. The first involves extending existing partnerships, with Zurich exploring how it can work collaboratively to broaden what it does within those relationships.
“In addition, brand new arrangements where we’ve found a partner that shares the same ethos, capability and technical attributes to us,” he stated.
E-trade focus ahead of Biba
Nichols’ comments come just days before the Biba conference, where brokers will gather to hear from insurers about their plans for the coming year. The timing matters because capacity deals in the retail space have become a central talking point for brokers who are watching how carriers structure their offerings.
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Zurich has not disclosed which areas the new arrangements will cover, or which partners might be involved. The insurer has kept details close, but Nichols suggested the announcements will come in stages, with the next one due before the end of the month.
The push into e-trade is part of a broader effort to make it easier for brokers to place business digitally. Zurich has been investing in its digital platform, and Nichols indicated that the insurer sees room to grow in that channel.
That focus on digital distribution sits alongside the traditional relationship-based model that brokers rely on. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, but they do require different approaches to how capacity is deployed and how products are packaged.
Nichols’ key message for brokers ahead of the conference is that Zurich is committed to the retail market, and that the upcoming capacity deals are meant to give brokers more options, not fewer.
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He framed the strategy as one of growth, with Zurich looking to deepen its existing relationships while also bringing new partners into the fold. The emphasis on shared ethos and technical capability suggests the insurer is being selective about who it works with.
The announcement of the next deal later this month will be the first test of whether that selectivity translates into arrangements that brokers actually see as adding value. For now, the insurer is positioning itself as active and engaged, with more to come.
Brokers attending Biba will have the chance to hear more directly from Nichols and his team about what the pipeline means for them in practice. The conference comes at a time when the market is still adjusting to shifting capacity conditions, and Zurich’s moves will be watched closely.
