Our history

Hiscox USA announces the expansion of its business in its Los Angeles, California office with the addition of underwriters in the allied healthcare professional and general liability; architects, engineers and construction managers’ professional liability; kidnap and ransom and miscellaneous professional liability product lines.

Hiscox USA announces the opening of a southeast regional office in Atlanta, Georgia. The office, which is led by Robert Gadaleta, will serve as a regional hub for brokers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Windstorm Xynthia, an earthquake in Chile, Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, Deepwater Horizon, the New Zealand earthquake, riots in Thailand, the December freeze in the UK and the Australian floods.

“Throughout this succession of calamities our claims teams have paid claims with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness. We strongly believe that a claim paid fairly and fast creates a competitive advantage, and judging by customer feedback we largely achieve this goal.” Bronek Masojada

The Hiscox aerospace team quickly establishes itself as a key partner for discerning clients; offering damage and liability cover for the risks of accidents and grounded aircraft to every type of aviation operation including airlines, corporate jet owners, airports and aircraft/component manufacturers.

Swine flu, first identified in Mexico, spreads quickly around the world, before dying down in the spring of 2010. We are one of the only markets to offer swine flu cover.

The Hiscox graduate scheme is a key foundation block for growing our future talent – the entire programme is created to help build each individual’s skills both in their day-to-day role and as well-rounded professionals so that they are ready to progress through the organisation as quickly as their talent will allow.

Since the scheme began in 2009 we have taken on 98 grads from a wide variety of universities and have an impressive 85% retention rate. The scheme continues to play a major role in our youth attraction strategy, with grads past and present helping to refine the approach and offering to ensure we are constantly reviewing and improving.

Santiago Sierra’s Death Counter installed at Hiscox London office (1 January 2009 – 31 December 2009).

A major new artwork by international artist Santiago Sierra, the giant LED sign documents the annual number of human deaths worldwide, from any cause.

The compelling public artwork serves as a fast-paced reminder of the transient nature of both human life and capital right in the heart of London’s financial district whilst also adhering to Sierra’s minimalist aesthetic. It is loaned to Hiscox for one year in exchange for an insurance policy of €150,000, payable in the event of the artist’s death and valid for the duration of the exhibition. Thus, it exists not simply as an artwork in its own right, but also as a legally binding contract between Hiscox and the artist.

Hiscox USA opens new offices in San Francisco, New York, Armonk and Los Angeles.

For the third year running, Hiscox UK is named Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Times Awards.

In the same year, Hiscox UK is presented with General Insurer of the Year 2009 at the British Insurance Awards.

“The opportunity that lies ahead of us in Europe is tremendous. With our expertise, our unique brand, our specialty lines and our flexibility to act as a local player in each country, we are ideally positioned. We will grow and consolidate our leadership in our existing lines and leverage our relationships with brokers to further develop our Global Risks division.” Pierre-Olivier Desaulle

2008 is the second consecutive year that Hiscox has been named as Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Times Awards. The award is based on feedback and votes by UK insurance brokers.

“I would like to thank every single broker who voted for us. It is an absolute honour to be recognised for the work we have done to provide Hiscox brokers with an edge in their marketplace. Looking forward, we have some very exciting plans in place to ensure that this is just the beginning of the benefits Hiscox brokers will see.” Gary Head, Director, Business Insurance, Hiscox UK

Simon Cunningham, Duckrabbit, 2008
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Cornelia Parker, Loadstone (Elegy for an English Country Graveyard), 2008
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Jo Longhurst, I know what you’re thinking, 2003
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Hiscox launches a kidnap and ransom (K&R) product to the US admitted market. Industry experts join Hiscox to spearhead the launch and an exclusive relationship with Control Risks New York was established.

Hiscox sponsors the British Council Collection in London’s Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Hiscox successfully launches a luxury motor product.

Special cars deserve special treatment, and our challenge was to design compelling cover for owners of two or more high-value vehicles, but also to appeal to existing household customers.

The Bordeaux office is home to the Customer Service Centre for Hiscox France as well as home to underwriters, business analysts, finance and the property claims team.

New team members join Hiscox in New York, Boston and Miami.

“I’m delighted that event managers, exhibitors and brokers alike can now talk directly with well-trained UK-based telesales executives, particularly as at present, no other provider of events cover is able to offer an over the phone service where a quotation and cover can be purchased in the same call.” Martin Linfield, Hiscox UK Event Underwriting Manager.

Hiscox is a founding member of ClimateWise, which aims to leverage the insurance industry’s expertise to understand, communicate and act on the risks associated with climate change. Hiscox is independently assessed against a commitment to six key principles, including risk management, public policy, influencing our customers, investment and managing our direct emissions. For more information on ClimateWise please click here.

Sarah Morris, Weasel (Origami), 2007
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Harland Miller, Plan B – My Story, 2004
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Hiscox sponsors Damien Hirst’s Murderme Collection at the Serepentine Gallery in London.

In the wake of the deaths in the Far East from avian flu at the end of 2005, Hiscox is the only insurer to provide cover for the peril to organisers of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Hiscox’s specialist research confirmed that the likelihood of a global epidemic in 2006 was still very slim, and we provide the majority of cover for the tournament.

Hiscox is the winner of both the Personal Lines Insurer of the Year and Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year in 2007 at the Insurance Times Awards.

Hiscox announces the acquisition of American Live Stock Insurance Company, the premier live stock insurer in the US, and Harding & Harding, Inc. the affiliated insurance agency. American Live Stock Insurance Company is an admitted insurance company with licences in all 50 US states. Its main business is animal mortality insurance for cattle and horses.

“Earlier in the year we said that in order to continue to develop our US business we would acquire an admitted insurance carrier when the right opportunity arose. The acquisition of ALTOHA is an excellent fit on all fronts. It gives us a carrier admitted in 50 states through which we can expand our existing US operations and product offering.” Bronek Masojada

Hiscox Global Market invests in building underwriting teams outside London by establishing hubs in Paris and in New York to give brokers greater choice in the way they access Hiscox. As well as business, which comes to London, Hiscox can also serve those brokers who, for whatever reason, decide to place their business in their local market.

The UK insurance industry deals with over 180,000 claims as a result of the flooding in 2007, with the total bill standing at around £3 billion.