Distribution and customer services director to head up broker subsidiary
Cathie Bruce, distribution and customer service director at Groupama Insurances, is to become the managing director of ChoiceQuote Insurance Services, the specialist broking subsidiary owned by Groupama.
Bruce will join ChoiceQuote in November and will report initially to chief executive, Philip Catterall, with a plan in place to succeed him when he retires from the business in late 2009.
Groupama managing director, Laurent Matras will assume direct control of the Groupama distribution and customer services team on an interim basis.
François-Xavier Boisseau, chief executive of Groupama Insurances said: “Cathie has made a valuable contribution to our business over the past 4 years and has developed an experienced distribution team and a highly professional customer service centre. This step up and move across into one of the Group’s UK broking subsidiaries presents an exciting new challenge for Cathie whilst still allowing us to retain her talents within our group. We wish her well with her new appointment.”
Catterall said: “With my departure from the business timetabled for late next year, it has been important to identify my successor and I am delighted that Cathie has accepted the challenge to switch into this new role. The strength of Groupama’s extended UK business has given us a fantastic opportunity to attract someone with her pedigree and it’s great news that she will be joining ChoiceQuote. Cathie has tremendous industry experience at a senior level within the insurer and broking sectors and valuable knowledge of e-business, an area where ChoiceQuote is continuing to develop strongly.”
Bruce said: “The move across to ChoiceQuote is a terrific opportunity for me to develop my career within Groupama’s UK broking operation and further evidence of the commitment to fill senior positions from within. I want to help build on the success that Phil and ChoiceQuote has achieved over the past few years. Organic growth has been impressive in difficult market conditions and this is the result of the vision, hard work and commitment of Phil and the rest of his team. My job will be to continue the profitable development of the business and it is a new challenge that I am very excited about.”
