Agents, MGAs, and the new architecture of European insurance distribution
By Enrico Bertagna | May 3, 2026
European insurance distribution is entering one of the most consequential transitions in decades. At the heart of this shift is the remarkable rise of Managing General Agents (MGAs) — a segment once considered niche but now increasingly central to the continent’s underwriting and distribution ecosystem.
Business Models
Rise of the incubators
As the hurdles to setting up a standalone MGA have grown, so has the appeal of incubation.
Seven reasons to consider a captive
The role of reinsurance captives has been growing in the capacity stack of MGAs in the United States and United Kingdom. In the first of a series of monthly articles on captive management issues, Mark Elliott, CEO of Guernsey-based Polo Insurance Managers, highlights the top seven reasons why profitable MGAs of all sizes across Europe should consider establishing a captive.