Akshay Bhaskarwar appointed Location Head - Pune at Ethika Insurance Broking Private Limited. Akshay Bhaskarwar has been appointed as Location Head - Pune at Ethika Insurance Broking Private Limited., bringing extensive experience in insurance, sales leadership, and regional business management. His professional background includes leading sales operations and developing business across the employee benefits and insurance sectors. Prior to joining Ethika Insurance Broking, Akshay served as Assistant Vice President at Howden and Associate Director at Pazcare. At Pazcare, he also held the role of Founding Member and Regional Manager - Sales, West India, contributing to the company's regional sales operations and growth.

Loxa and Howden partner to bring point of sale protection to UK jewellers and watch retailers. New Partner 26 Oct 2026 The point of sale protection provider and jewellers block specialist will give jewellers a way to protect their customers' purchases and keep replacement sales in the shop that made them. London, 26 october 2026. Loxa has been appointed as point of sale protection partner to Howden's Jewellers' Block team, giving UK jewellers and watch retailers a way to offer their customers cover on the piece they have just bought, at the moment they buy it. The two businesses protect different ends of the same shop. Howden looks after the jeweller's own business, covering stock, premises and the risks of the trade. Loxa covers what the customer carries out of the door. Together, a jeweller can protect their business and their customer's purchase through one relationship. The timing reflects a demanding period for the trade. Precious metal prices have risen sharply, leaving retailers holding stock bought at very different values. Margins on high value watches have tightened as the pre-owned market corrected. Theft has risen, particularly in London, to the point where customers are changing what they buy and where they wear it. And customers increasingly treat aftercare as part of the purchase decision rather than something to consider afterwards. When a customer damages or loses a piece to theft, the claim is usually settled elsewhere and the replacement bought elsewhere. The jeweller loses the customer at the moment the relationship should count for most. In a trade that runs on recommendation and repeat custom, that is an expensive way to lose someone. Loxa's cover is built so that approved claims return to the retailer who made the original sale, as a repair at their own bench or a replacement from their own counter. "The way people buy jewellery is evolving, and insurance has an opportunity to evolve with it. Loxa brings cover directly into the purchase journey, whether a customer is buying in-store or online. When insurance is simple, relevant and offered at the right moment, customers respond - across Loxa's retail partners, around 15% of customers buying high-value items choose to take out cover. "Jewellery is built on trust. Customers choose a jeweller because they trust them with an important purchase, and that relationship shouldn't disappear if something goes wrong. Giving the retailer the opportunity to replace the item keeps that customer relationship intact. In a sector this personal, that matters." "Jewellers have spent decades building relationships most retailers would envy, and then losing customers at the one moment those relationships should count for the most. Howden's clients asked for a way to offer protection at the counter. We have built one that keeps the replacement, and the customer, with the shop that made the sale." The partnership has been in development for much of the past year and was brought together this September, with both teams at the Jewellery Show at Olympia. Jewellers and watch retailers interested in offering the cover can contact Loxa at jewellery.loxacover.com. About Loxa. Loxa enables retailers to offer their customers protection seamlessly at the point of sale. For jewellery and watch retailers, that means cover for accidental damage and theft on the piece itself, at the counter or online, with approved claims returning to the retailer who made the original sale as a repair or a replacement piece. A trusted partner to more than 50 leading UK retailers across jewellery, watches, furniture, electronics, power tools, catering equipment and eyewear, Loxa is on a mission to protect every retail customer, everywhere. Loxa Ltd is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA no. 1018666). Registered in England and Wales (Company no. 14654818). loxacover.com Howden and Loxa have a mutual commercial introducer relationship for jewellery and watch merchants. Media contact. About Howden. Howden is a leading global insurance intermediary group, built on employee ownership. Founded in 1994, it delivers insurance, reinsurance and underwriting services for clients ranging from private individuals to the world's largest multinationals. The Group operates in 57 countries across Europe, the USA and Latin America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa, with 25,000 people managing over $54 billion in premiums for clients. Anugrah Pundir Marketing & Partnerships Lead

Howden teams up with Uris on pet insurance. Howden, a leading global insurance intermediary group, has launched pet insurance in partnership with Uris Group, offering access to a range of cover levels designed to help protect clients' pets and manage unexpected veterinary costs. The lifetime cover provides ongoing protection for pets, including veterinary fees for illness and injury, alongside a range of additional benefits such as third-party liability, emergency boarding, holiday cancellation and support if a pet is lost or stolen. Multi-pet discounts are also available, helping households with more than one pet access protection while managing costs. Clients can also access 24/7 app and online veterinary advice through FirstVet, providing expert information and support on a range of pet health concerns, from minor illnesses and injuries to nutrition and behaviour questions. Mike Dalby, CEO of Consumer, Howden, said: "Insurance Edge is committed to helping its clients protect what matters most in life, and pets are no exception. For many, pets are cherished family members, and pet owners value trusted advice and reliable cover that helps them manage unexpected costs with confidence. "We're delighted to partner with Uris Group (UGL) to launch pet insurance, adding to our wide range of personal insurance products. By combining our expertise, we're making it easier for clients to access cover that will take care of their pet's needs. The partnership reflects our commitment to working with specialist providers to bring greater choice and value to clients across the UK." UGL is providing Howden with both product and administration, and Group Commercial Director Nick Sharp said Pet is a key element of the Group's plan for growth." "UK pet insurance is forecast to grow by double digits during the rest of this decade, and, in light of this, UGL has built market-leading product development and TPA capability to support Howden. We look forward to helping Mike and his team make a resounding success of our new partnership." Named Insurance Broker of the Decade* and rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot by personal lines clients across more than 73,000 reviews, Howden combines specialist expertise with local service to support customers across the UK. The launch of pet insurance further strengthens Howden's personal lines offering and reflects its commitment to helping clients protect the things that matter most.