Market moves: Riding the whirlwind

A truly frantic month for Market moves saw shock announcements, shock departures and shock arrivals at insurers and brokers in equal measure. There were old favourites galore with the likes of Aviva and Towergate getting plenty of mentions but there were some real curve balls thrown into the mix as well. Top of the shocking announcements were undoubtedly Zurich, for its decision to cut 121 jobs in personal lines claims, and RSA Ireland, for all its trials and tribulations. Ex-CEO Philip Smith described himself as traumatised when he departed. Other shock departures included Sam Hudson’s exit from Aviva but it was shock arrivals that truly led the way. From Martyn Holman turning up at Markerstudy, just months after being embroiled in a failed takeover deal while at Brightside, to Sarah Lyons and June Lynch reappearing in the market it has been a whirlwind period.

Zurich hit the headlines with an unfortunate story last month when it announced that 121 people would lose their jobs in the claims team. From March 2014 it will transfer UK personal lines motor and property claims to Cheltenham-based subsidiary Endsleigh. The redundancies will fall across 94 posts at the insurer’s personal lines base along with 27 being cut from the Glasgow office. Personal lines managing director John Dyke is also departing.

RSA was another insurer with major news. Philip