Some in the agent world might say, "It's about time," but carriers have become more attentive to the needs of their independent agents because they realize it is a competitive differentiator.

Regardless of how insurance carriers reach customers--whether it's as a direct writer or through the independent agent channel--the one thing all insurers have in common is a passion for customer retention.

Losses from the Deepwater Horizon and Aban Pearl drilling rigs have left upstream energy insurers with an unprecedented bill of $795 million within the space of a single month, destabilizing the market and driving up rates.

J. Michael Foley has been named president of Berkley Risk Administrators Co., LLC (BRAC), a subsidiary of Greenwich, Conn.-based property and casualty insurer W.R. Berkley Corp.