Atradius Risk Map shows 102 economies rated as high risk. Atradius' latest Risk Map Q1 2026 is now available and shows that global country risk remains widespread, with 102 economies classified as high risk, compared with 79 low-risk and 26 moderate-risk countries and territories. The update, covering conditions at the end of Q1 2026, records upgrades for Ghana, Kenya, Moldova, the Republic of the Congo and Tunisia, while Nicaragua was downgraded. Atradius said Nicaragua's downgrade reflects a more repressive political environment, greater exposure to US sanctions and tariff threats, and rising transfer and convertibility risks. To read Atradius' news release, with a link to the interactive map, go to https://atradius.co.uk/knowledge-and-research/news/key-highlights-from-the-atradius-risk-map-q1-2026.

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Coface finds sharp country divergence behind stable CEE insolvency figures. Coface's latest CEE Insolvency Study shows that, while insolvencies across Central and Eastern Europe were broadly stable in 2025, the regional headline masks sharp differences between countries. Total insolvency proceedings edged up by just 0.26%, from 46,043 in 2024 to 46,161 in 2025. However, country-level trends varied significantly. Poland recorded the steepest rise, with insolvencies up 17.8%, largely due to the growing use of restructuring procedures rather than a sudden deterioration in business activity. Slovenia (+12.9%), Serbia (+9.6%), the Czech Republic (+8.7%) and Romania (+3.8%) also saw increases. In contrast, Croatia (-18.6%), Slovakia (-14.5%), Lithuania (-13%), Latvia (-7.4%), Hungary (-6.6%) and Bulgaria (-6.2%) reported declines. To read Coface's news release, go to https://www.coface.com/news-economy-and-insights/cee-insolvencies-stability-on-the-surface-fragility-beneath-and-rising-risks-ahead.​

 

ICISA calls for a lower LGD floor in EU banking rules. ICISA's April 2026 policy and regulatory update says regulatory activity remains intense across credit insurance and surety, with EU banking rules its main concern. ICISA argues that the 45% loss given default (LGD) floor under the Capital Requirements Regulation 3 (CRR3) wrongly treats credit insurance like unsecured senior lending, rather than recognising its contractual protection, underwriting discipline and Solvency II safeguards. It says this requires banks to hold excessive capital against insured exposures, discouraging the use of credit insurance and constraining trade finance. ICISA points to research suggesting that bank use of credit insurance has plateaued at around €400-500 billion, with regulation a key factor. In response, it is supporting a proposed reduction in the LGD floor to 22.5%, while continuing to press its case through EBA consultations, EU simplification discussions and wider competitiveness advocacy. To read ICISA's news release, go to https://icisa.org/news/icisa-policy-and-regulatory-update-april-2026/.

 

Trade credit claims in the London market fell in volume but rose in value in 2025. Insurance Business has reported that the latest LMA, IUA and LIIBA survey of London market trade credit insurance claims found that 136 claims were payable in 2025, down from 185 in 2024, while aggregate claims value rose by almost US$38 million to US$438.5 million. The figures point to a smaller number of larger claims across international trade credit risks, rather than the total claims experience of all major trade credit insurers. Only three claims (just over 2% by number and around 3% by value) were paid after the contractual deadline, due to payment processing issues rather than coverage disputes. Africa remained the largest source of claims by volume, accounting for 63% of all claims, while Europe generated the highest proportion by value, representing more than one-third of total amounts paid. To read Insurance Business' article, go to https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/claims/trade-credit-claims-fall-in-number-but-hit-higher-dollar-total--london-survey-572436.aspx.
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CPRI claims rise as geopolitical risks multiply. Trade Finance Global (TFG) has published an article and podcast in which Alexander Klepp, Underwriting Manager at Credendo, says credit and political risk insurance (CPRI) is evolving from a reactive safeguard into a strategic balance-sheet tool. The article notes that rising global instability has driven CPRI claims activity to a five-year high in 2025, peaking at US$85.4 million, while 80% of claims were new notifications, compared with a five-year average of 53%. Consequently, insurers have become more selective and transaction-focused, with non-payment underwriting increasingly centred on transaction architecture, cash flow chains, contract enforcement, and the wider payment ecosystem. Alexander says CPRI works best when embedded early in transactions, helping corporates and financiers maintain resilience and operational continuity. To read TFG's article or listen to the podcast, go to https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-as-risks-multiply-insurers-rethink-the-architecture-of-protection/.
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New Address: Coface UK & Ireland moves to new London office. Coface UK & Ireland has moved to a new London office at 125 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1AR, in the heart of the City. The company said the move marks a new chapter for its UK and Ireland business and reflects the progress made in recent years, including team growth, stronger client and partner relationships, and an accelerated transformation programme.
 

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Credit Insurance Fundraising
Help Sally Brown raise funds to support Afghan women.
I am Sally Brown, Editor and Founder of Credit Insurance News, and I mentor and teach a group of young Afghan women who have shown extraordinary courage and determination in the face of unimaginable educational barriers and now need support to take the next step.

Through the volunteer-led education programme I work with, more than 1,200 Afghan girls and women are continuing to study online, supported by people around the world who believe that opportunity should not simply disappear overnight. Among them are sixty remarkable young women who have already earned life-changing opportunities through sheer hard work and perseverance. Forty are due to begin remote internships with international companies this May, and twenty are preparing to start online Master's degrees with British universities this September.

They have done everything asked of them. They have studied, applied, persevered and succeeded. But 90% are still trying to do all of this on smartphones. At this stage, that is simply not enough.

We are raising funds for sixty laptops, one for each of these young women, so they can properly take up the opportunities they have worked so hard to earn.

Any support would be greatly appreciated. It would not simply provide a laptop; it would help turn hard-won opportunity into something real, practical and lasting.

To support the campaign (every little helps), please go to https://givebutter.com/ywtWJv.

To find out more about the charity I volunteer with and how to help women in Afghanistan, there is a wonderful TEDx talk with one of the charity's founders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj2fXR3YP_o&t=2s.
 

 

Congratulations to...
Congratulations to EFCIS on being recognised at the HSBC & Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Growth Awards, where it was named runner-up in the Innovation category for its ARC platform.

 

Congratulations to Corine Troncy, Global Head Trade Credit at AIG, and Danielle Cousins, Managing Director, Team Bexley at EFCIS | ICBA UK, on their nominations for the Women in Insurance 2026 Awards. Corine has been nominated for Woman of the Year (Large Firms), while Danielle has been nominated for Insurance Woman of the Year (SME) and Role Model of the Year (Broker). These are fantastic achievements and well-deserved recognition of their contribution to the industry. Wishing them both the very best of luck at the awards.​​​​​​

 

 

 

New Appointments
Acrisure has appointed Kevin Murray as Client Advisor, based in Illinois, US. Kevin joins Acrisure from Atradius, where he served as a Senior Account Manager. He previously spent more than three years as an Account Manager at Atradius Trade Credit Insurance, Inc., and earlier worked at Euler Hermes North America as a Customer Experience Partner.​

Allianz Trade made two new appointments:

• Adele Scott had been appointed as XoL Underwriter. Adele joins Allianz Trade from AIG, where she spent more than five years in trade credit underwriting roles. Most recently, she was an Underwriter, Trade Credit, Middle Market, having previously worked as a Junior Underwriter, Trade Credit, Strategic and Multinational, and Trainee Underwriter.

• Mahlatse Mofokeng has become an Account Manager in Johannesburg. Mahlatse joins Allianz Trade from Price Forbes, where she was an Account Executive in Trade Credit. She previously worked at Marsh McLennan and earlier held a Credit Underwriter role at Allianz Trade.
   

Aon has made several additions to its teams across the UK and Europe.

• Mez Patel will join Aon Credit Solutions in June as Head of Global Sales, with a focus on growth across the UK trade credit market. Mez joins from Allianz Trade, where he spent 18 years, most recently as Regional Sales Director for Allianz Trade's multinationals-focused business.

• Alberto Carrion will join Aon's Lenders Solutions Group, which supports financial institutions in managing complex credit and risk transfer needs. Based in Madrid, Alberto joins from Santander, where he was most recently Head of Private Credit Insurance and Executive Director, Private Debt Mobilisation.

• Nicola Mondone will also join Aon's Lenders Solutions Group. Nicola joins from Guy Carpenter, where he was Senior Vice-President, focusing on credit risk transfer and capital optimisation.

• George Bromley-Davenport has been appointed Client Director in the UK. George joins Aon from Credendo, where he spent nine years as Sales and Account Manager. He previously worked at Aon Risk Solutions for almost five years, holding roles as a Client Manager and an Account Executive.​
   

Atradius has appointed Laura Rampartap-Woodruff as Senior Account Manager in New York. Laura joins Atradius from Coface, where she spent more than 21 years in senior account management and client service roles, most recently as Manager, Account Management for the East Coast and Canada.​

 

AU Group has appointed Fraser Bunn as Managing Director in Miami. Fraser has been with AU Group since 2018, most recently serving as Vice President and member of the AU International Management Committee. He previously spent nearly six years at Aon Risk Solutions as Senior Broker in the Credit Insurance Global Department.​

 

Bondaval has appointed Anke Uebele and Christoph Dautenheimer to establish its on-the-ground presence in the DACH region. Anke joins as Head of Trade Credit, DACH, based in Hamburg, and will lead broker-driven sales activity while building a local team. She joins from Allianz Trade, where she spent 16 years in senior roles across Germany and Switzerland, most recently as Regional Head of XoL. She previously spent more than 10 years at Coface as an underwriter and business development manager. Christoph joins as Head of Commercial Underwriting and Development, DACH, based in the Rhine-Main region. He joins from Credendo, where he spent four years as an account manager and risk underwriter.​​

 

BPL has made several new appointments:

• Emilia Levett has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, based in London. Emilia joins BPL from WTW, where she spent nearly nine years in a series of roles, most recently as Head of Strategy & Execution, Global Direct & Facultative. She previously served as Chief of Staff, Global Direct & Facultative, and held broking roles in Financial Solutions Political & Credit Risks.

• Thomas Thornton becomes Senior Broker in London. Thomas has been with BPL since December 2023. Before joining BPL, he spent more than four years at Atradius in a series of underwriting roles, including Underwriter, Underwriting Risks Supervisor and Underwriting Assistant.

• Isabel Frutuoso becomes Senior Broker in London. Isabel has been with BPL for more than five years, joining the company as a Trainee Broker in March 2021 before becoming a Broker in June 2023.

• Nathan McArthur becomes Senior Broker in London. Nathan has been with BPL for more than six years, joining as a Trainee Broker in January 2020 before becoming a Broker in April 2023. He previously completed the Lloyd's Apprenticeship scheme, including a rotation with BPL Global as Broker Apprentice.

• Michael Dolan has been appointed Assistant Director in New York. Michael has been with BPL since March 2022, initially joining as a Broker before becoming a Senior Broker in May 2024.​

 

Brown & Brown has appointed Terry Kingston as Regional Manager, Midlands, UK. Terry has been with Brown & Brown UK since September 2020, having previously served as an Account Manager. Before joining Brown & Brown, he worked at Towergate Insurance Brokers as an Account Manager, managing a portfolio of corporate and strategic credit insurance clients. He also spent more than 32 years at Gallagher in a series of senior credit insurance roles, including Director, Assistant Director and Account Executive.

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C&C Insurance Brokers has appointed Sam Blackwell as Senior Account Executive, Trade Credit.

Based in Stockport, Sam joins from Bibby Financial Services, where he was Bad Debt Protection Administrator. He previously held trade credit and business development roles at Coface and Aon.

 

Coface has made several promotions:

• Katarzyna Kompowska has been appointed Director of Strategic Partnerships, effective 1 May 2026, as part of Coface's 'Power the Core' strategic plan. Katarzyna has been with Coface for more than 34 years and was previously CEO of the Northern Europe Region.

• Christian Stoffel has been appointed CEO of Coface's Northern Europe Region. He has been with Coface for nearly seven years and was previously Chief Commercial Officer for the Northern Europe Region. He is also Chairman of the Management Board of Coface Factoring / Managing Director.

• Celine Coskun becomes a Senior Account Manager at Coface Global Solutions in Mainz. Celine has been with Coface since April 2024, previously serving as an Account Manager at Coface Global Solutions. Before joining Coface, she worked at Zurich Insurance and AIG.

• Coface has appointed Wisan Anani as Senior Field Credit Analyst in Dubai. Wisan has been with Coface since June 2024, serving as Senior Manager, Key Brokers. Before joining Coface, Wisan worked in Commercial Partnerships at TREVEX and previously spent more than three years at Marsh Middle East and Africa as AVP & Client Manager, Trade Credit Practice, MENA.​
   

Everywhen Trade Credit & Surety has appointed Andy Moran as Account Executive. Andy joins Everywhen from Aon, where he spent nearly seven years in client-facing roles, most recently as Client Director. He previously served as Client Manager at Aon from August 2019 to January 2024.​

 

Marsh has made two new appointments:

• Stuart Spear is promoted to Senior Vice President. Stuart has been with Marsh since September 2014, previously serving as Vice President in the Global Clients Group. Before joining Marsh, he was a Key Account Manager at Coface Global Solutions UK & Ireland. He previously worked as a Client Director on Aon's Multinational Trade Credit Team and spent more than 17 years at Atradius as a Senior Account Manager.

• Marsh Risk has appointed Kate Mudd as Head of Corporate North, Credit Specialties, in the UK. Kate has been with Marsh Risk since September 2018, having previously served as an Account Executive. Before joining Marsh, she spent more than ten years at Bluefin as an Account Executive.​

 

Nexus Trade Credit has appointed Elvir Hailovic as Senior Commercial Underwriter/Account Manager. Elvir joins Nexus Trade Credit from Atradius Dutch State Business, where he was an Export Credit Specialist  / Business Developer. He previously held credit risk roles at Credendo and Atradius.​

 

QBE Insurance has appointed Michelle Woo as Risk Underwriting Manager, Trade Credit, in Melbourne. Michelle has been with QBE Insurance since November 2022, having previously served as a Senior Risk Underwriter. Before joining QBE, she spent more than three years at IQumulate Premium Funding as a Senior Credit & Risk Analyst.​

 

Verlingue UK has appointed Lee Hargreaves as Client Director in Birmingham. Lee joins Verlingue UK from PIB Insurance Brokers, where he was Business Development Manager. He previously held business development roles at W Denis Credit Risks and Aon, and earlier worked as a Credit Insurance Consultant at Euler Hermes UK & Ireland.​​

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Watson Trade Credit has appointed Michael McDowell as Sales Director. Michael joins from QBE Insurance, where he spent more than ten years in Global Credit & Surety roles, most recently as Commercial Underwriting Manager.

 

W Denis Credit Risks has made the following new appointments:

• Sarah Lockhead and Michael Fradgley have been appointed Joint Managing Directors. Sarah has been with W Denis Credit Risks for more than 13 years, most recently serving as Head of Account Management (North) and Associate Director. She previously spent more than eight years as Account Executive, Trade Credit. Michael has been with W Denis Credit Risks since September 2022, most recently serving as Head of Account Management (South) and Associate Director.

• Jono Hall has been promoted to Head of Sales. Jono joined W Denis Credit Risks in August 2023, and was previously Account Executive & New Business Manager. Before joining W Denis, Jono spent nearly ten years at Marsh in trade credit roles.

• Bradley Wolstencroft has been promoted to the role of SME Account Executive in Leeds. Bradley has been with W Denis Credit Risks since October 2023, previously serving as Credit Account Handler. 

• Andrew Wilson joined W Denis Credit Risks as Trade Credit Broker on 13 April. He previously worked at Chubb as a Credit Risk Analyst.

• Zosia Lewis joined the Northern team as Associate Director on 6 May.

• After 16 years as Managing Director, John Cockshutt is moving into a Non-Executive Advisory role and will continue to support the business as a Director.​

 

WTW has made two appointments:

• Arthur Williams joins WTW as Director, based in Dublin. Arthur joins WTW from Atradius, where he was a Reinsurance Underwriter. He previously worked at Advent Risk Management Ltd as Credit and Operations Manager and Business Development Manager, and earlier spent more than 12 years at Atradius in account management roles, including Senior Accounts Manager and Account Manager, Key Accounts Team, Ireland. He also previously worked as an Account Executive at Marsh.

• Tony Edwards joins WTW as Associate Director, based in London. Tony joins WTW from Aon, where he spent almost 12 years in trade credit roles, most recently as Trade Credit Senior Client Manager. Before joining Aon, he worked at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co as an Account Manager. He also previously held claims roles at Heath Lambert Group and Zurich Financial Services.