Our history

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 UK launch its first ever national television advertising campaign on 1 May 2006.

Hiscox USA opens for business in March 2006 in Armonk (New York). The team is focused on rolling out Hiscox’s specialist products for small and medium commercial businesses which would normally be insured in the domestic market.

The Cologne office is the regional office for western Germany and is home to a team of underwriters for all lines of German business. For more information, please visit hiscox.de

The Hiscox Lisbon office is the hub for European operations covering policy and claims administration, finance, credit control and other support areas such as management information. The shared service centre was created in 2010 to support the entire European operation. Please visit hiscox.pt for more information.

Cecily Brown, Maid’s Day Off, 2005
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Grayson Perry, Print for a Politician, 2005
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Michael Craig-Martin, Untitled (Self Portrait No. 7), 2005
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Hiscox UK is awarded Underwriter of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2006.

In the same year, Syndicate 33 is awarded ‘Lloyd’s Syndicate of the Year’ at the Insurance Times Awards.

“This award reflects the success of the Hiscox approach to business – we focus on underwriting and on finding solutions for our clients. Hiscox invests heavily in the technical knowledge of its underwriters, and in initiatives to make those underwriters and their capacity easily accessible. It is great to receive such a prestigious recognition and endorsement of this approach.” Richard Watson, Managing Director, Hiscox Global Markets.

“The opening of the office in Manchester represents the next stage of our UK expansion. It supports our core strategy of making our insurance decision-makers accessible, which helps differentiate us from the competition through local understanding and superior service.” Steve Langan, Managing Director, Hiscox UK

Amanda joined Hiscox in 2006 as Group Human Resources Director. Prior to joining the Group, Amanda worked for Mars, PepsiCo and Whitbread in senior human resources roles in Europe and internationally. 

Hiscox works on an electric peer-to-peer trading initiative to allow brokers around the world to submit business electronically. This is supported by a trading floor in the London hub and the widening of the London Market business in two other hubs in Paris and New York.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit Lloyd’s of London and take time to speak to Global Head of Art and Private Client, Robert Read.

Hiscox plc moves its country of domicile to Bermuda from the United Kingdom, adopting the name Hiscox Ltd.

Richard Watson is appointed Managing Director of Hiscox London Market and Active Underwriter for Syndicate 33.

The seven hurricanes in the US and the Caribbean in 2005 including Katrina are the most expensive in history for the insurance industry.

The hurricanes stop the slide in rates in those lines of business affected by the losses and generally stiffen the resolve of underwriters in some other areas. In order to take advantage of the improved conditions in one of our core areas, including international reinsurance, Hiscox creates Hiscox Bermuda.

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled (from Beneath the Roses), 2004
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Bernard Frize, Astor, 2002
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“We do not underestimate the power of mother nature, but we will underwrite assuming she will test us again and I see considerable opportunities for profit.” Robert Hiscox

Prince William spends time with Robert Read, Head of Fine Art and Simon Williams, Head of Marine and Energy at the Hiscox London office and Lloyd’s of London for a day of work experience.

Hiscox launches a new corporate website (hiscox.com) to improve its communication with clients, brokers, investors and potential recruits.

In the same year, Hiscox UK launch Direct commercial insurance.

In November 2005, Hiscox announces the establishment of wholly owned Bermudian insurer, Hiscox Bermuda.

“This is an exciting opportunity to underwrite our business more internationally, with an experienced team, with a proven track record.” Robert Hiscox

“We cannot avoid Bermuda, we’ve always needed to be at the bazaar.” Robert Childs

Jeremy joins Hiscox as Claims Director following his role as Head of Claims for Lloyd’s of London where he led the task force managing liabilities of the Lloyd’s market following the tragic events of 9/11.

Hiscox announces the acquisition of Insurex Expo-Sure, the UK’s leading specialist insurance provider to the conference, event and exhibitions market.

Insurex provides a wide portfolio of conference, events and exhibition insurance to over 2000 clients ranging from private individuals to global companies.

“Our strategy has always been to grow through leadership in specialist markets.The acquisition by Hiscox of Insurex builds upon a strong working relationship to create a new force in this marketplace. Clients will be able to benefit from our specialist knowledge of this market, high quality underwriting skills, and a strong distribution network.” Bronek Masojada

Steve Langan joins as Managing Director of Hiscox UK from Diageo where his experience in consumer marketing and leading businesses should ensure that our efforts in building the Hiscox brand to grow the business are well rewarded.

Hurricane Ivan’s impact causes one of the biggest losses in the sector on record.

“The four hurricanes which made landfall in the USA tested the nerve of the industry.” Bronek Masojada.

Hiscox UK opens a new branch in Colchester to handle specialty commercial and private client business from brokers across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, East Anglia and North Kent. Ten team members move into the branch, situated in Colchester town centre, in Hiscox’s existing business centre which was opened early in 2003 to handle underwriting, claims and customer services.

Hiscox Madrid is home to the sales, underwriting, claims and marketing teams.

Hiscox launch a US focused e-commerce platform which will sit in brokers’ offices and be able to provide quotes online.

The Art and Private Client division is created in order to bring together Hiscox’s underwriting under common management; unifying and simplifying the interface with brokers. In the same year, Fine Art by Hiscox is relaunched.