Must-Read International Insurance Journal Highlights for 2025

The top 10 most popular international stories of 2025 encompassed a wide array of topics, from the job challenges faced by John Neal, the former CEO of Lloyd’s, to the catastrophic losses incurred from Hurricane Melissa. Other significant stories included the escalating costs associated with climate change and the ongoing trend of declining property and casualty prices, despite the rising cost of risk. Additionally, the Lloyd’s response to the Trump administration’s “big beautiful bill” and the primary risks confronting businesses in 2025 were also highlighted.

1. Ex-Lloyd’s CEO’s Job-Seeking Issues

Just as John Neal was set to assume the role of president at American International Group (AIG), the insurer unexpectedly withdrew the job offer, which included a lucrative $17.2 million pay package. This decision garnered significant attention, particularly after a Wall Street Journal article revealed that Lloyd’s of London was investigating Neal regarding an alleged relationship with a Lloyd’s employee.

2. Hurricane Melissa Triggers Catastrophe Bond in Jamaica

The second most-read article focused on the financial impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, primarily borne by catastrophe investors and reinsurers. To mitigate future risks, Jamaica arranged a $150 million catastrophe bond through the World Bank to fund responses to extreme weather events. The property-catastrophe market is closely monitoring these bonds, as they could significantly affect reinsurers’ market share.

3. Climate Change-Driven Insured Losses

Ranking third was a report from Munich Re detailing natural disasters in 2024, which was noted as the third most expensive year on record. The report characterized climate change as “showing its claws” and highlighted that weather-related catastrophes accounted for 93% of overall losses and 97% of insured losses. The trend of increasing severe weather events is expected to persist.

4. Lloyd’s Comments on Republican Reconciliation Bill

Fourth on the list was an article discussing the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” In June, Lloyd’s praised the removal of Section 899 from the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which could have imposed significant taxes on the US income of non-US-domiciled businesses. UK businesses viewed this section as a potential source of “retaliatory tax measures.” Its removal was confirmed in the final act signed into law by Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.

5. Cayman Islands Builds Reinsurance Hub

An article examining the Cayman Islands’ emergence as a reinsurance hub revealed that reinsurers from the region provided approximately $74 billion in reserve credits for US life insurers in 2024, more than double the amount from five years prior, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. However, this trend has sparked debate among industry stakeholders.

6. US Tariffs and Their Effect on Premium Growth

A report from Swiss Re indicated that US tariffs could hinder global economic growth by reducing trade and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, ultimately leading to slower growth in insurance premiums. The long-term implications of these tariffs remain uncertain.

7. Former CEO of Nexus Faces Internal Probe

An internal email deemed “wholly inappropriate and offensive” led to the resignation of Stuart Rouse, the former CEO of Nexus Underwriting, a London-based managing general agent owned by Brown & Brown. Following the incident, Steve Hearn was appointed as the new group CEO.

8. Re/insurance Pricing Trends Are Growing Concern

Pricing and capacity trends have consistently captured our readers’ attention. Several top international articles addressed concerns about adverse reserve development and the unsustainable trend of declining property/casualty prices amid rising risk costs.

9. The How-Tos of Embedded Insurance and Successful MGAs

Throughout 2025, Insurance Journal published numerous “viewpoint” articles from industry experts. The two most popular articles in the International section focused on embedded insurance opportunities and the keys to successful managing general agencies.

10. Top Business Risks for 2025

Allianz’s annual risk barometer made it into the top 10 most popular international articles. Cyber incidents, business interruption, and natural catastrophes were identified as the top three risks concerning global businesses, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025. Cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and data breaches, ranked as the top global risk for the fourth consecutive year, based on a survey of 3,778 respondents from 106 countries and territories.

The top 10 most popular international stories of 2025 encompassed a wide array of topics, from the job challenges faced by John Neal, the former CEO of Lloyd’s, to the catastrophic losses incurred from Hurricane Melissa. Other significant stories included the escalating costs associated with climate change and the ongoing trend of declining property and casualty prices, despite the rising cost of risk. Additionally, the Lloyd’s response to the Trump administration’s “big beautiful bill” and the primary risks confronting businesses in 2025 were also highlighted.

1. Ex-Lloyd’s CEO’s Job-Seeking Issues

Just as John Neal was set to assume the role of president at American International Group (AIG), the insurer unexpectedly withdrew the job offer, which included a lucrative $17.2 million pay package. This decision garnered significant attention, particularly after a Wall Street Journal article revealed that Lloyd’s of London was investigating Neal regarding an alleged relationship with a Lloyd’s employee.

2. Hurricane Melissa Triggers Catastrophe Bond in Jamaica

The second most-read article focused on the financial impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, primarily borne by catastrophe investors and reinsurers. To mitigate future risks, Jamaica arranged a $150 million catastrophe bond through the World Bank to fund responses to extreme weather events. The property-catastrophe market is closely monitoring these bonds, as they could significantly affect reinsurers’ market share.

3. Climate Change-Driven Insured Losses

Ranking third was a report from Munich Re detailing natural disasters in 2024, which was noted as the third most expensive year on record. The report characterized climate change as “showing its claws” and highlighted that weather-related catastrophes accounted for 93% of overall losses and 97% of insured losses. The trend of increasing severe weather events is expected to persist.

4. Lloyd’s Comments on Republican Reconciliation Bill

Fourth on the list was an article discussing the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” In June, Lloyd’s praised the removal of Section 899 from the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which could have imposed significant taxes on the US income of non-US-domiciled businesses. UK businesses viewed this section as a potential source of “retaliatory tax measures.” Its removal was confirmed in the final act signed into law by Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.

5. Cayman Islands Builds Reinsurance Hub

An article examining the Cayman Islands’ emergence as a reinsurance hub revealed that reinsurers from the region provided approximately $74 billion in reserve credits for US life insurers in 2024, more than double the amount from five years prior, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. However, this trend has sparked debate among industry stakeholders.

6. US Tariffs and Their Effect on Premium Growth

A report from Swiss Re indicated that US tariffs could hinder global economic growth by reducing trade and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, ultimately leading to slower growth in insurance premiums. The long-term implications of these tariffs remain uncertain.

7. Former CEO of Nexus Faces Internal Probe

An internal email deemed “wholly inappropriate and offensive” led to the resignation of Stuart Rouse, the former CEO of Nexus Underwriting, a London-based managing general agent owned by Brown & Brown. Following the incident, Steve Hearn was appointed as the new group CEO.

8. Re/insurance Pricing Trends Are Growing Concern

Pricing and capacity trends have consistently captured our readers’ attention. Several top international articles addressed concerns about adverse reserve development and the unsustainable trend of declining property/casualty prices amid rising risk costs.

9. The How-Tos of Embedded Insurance and Successful MGAs

Throughout 2025, Insurance Journal published numerous “viewpoint” articles from industry experts. The two most popular articles in the International section focused on embedded insurance opportunities and the keys to successful managing general agencies.

10. Top Business Risks for 2025

Allianz’s annual risk barometer made it into the top 10 most popular international articles. Cyber incidents, business interruption, and natural catastrophes were identified as the top three risks concerning global businesses, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025. Cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and data breaches, ranked as the top global risk for the fourth consecutive year, based on a survey of 3,778 respondents from 106 countries and territories.