Marsh cuts ‘non-core’ arm of claims management service

Marsh has cast doubts over the future of 19 staff after deciding to withdraw from third party administration in the UK arm of its global claims management company, RECLAIM.

The staff, who are all employed at the broker’s Norwich office, are currently undergoing consultation; Marsh said they might be offered new roles or face redundancy.

The RECLAIM business is part of a service providing technical handling, adjustment and negotiation for a number of business classes including property, casualty, motor and cargo and transportation. It has offices in Norwich, Glasgow, Houston, Toronto and Singapore.

Until recently the business was divided in two; third party administration, and recovery services. Marsh said it was leaving third party administration because it was not achieving results that made it worth keeping.

A spokesman said the third party administration was non-core to operations. The company would keep its recovery services business and retain its global RECLAIM brand.

“The Marsh and RECLAIM management team will be working closely with clients to support them during the transition.

“As a result of this decision, 19 Marsh colleagues are currently in consultation and redeployment opportunities are being reviewed.”

Rival loss adjusting firms are believed to be watching the situation carefully in an attempt to pick up business. “We will keep a close eye on developments and see if there are any opportunities for us to step in,” said a source at a major loss adjuster.

Former Marsh global operations director Graham Tuttle, who was once responsible for RECLAIM business, left the company in September last year.

Marsh said that Tuttle’s departure was not linked to these latest developments.