NIG is looking to forge new broker partnerships within the next 12 months in a bid to achieve "significant" business growth.

Its 2006 distribution strategy will be "executed" by a newly-formed senior management team led by director of distribution, David Parker.

Parker told Insurance Times: "We will be focusing on building new relationships with exponential growth partners - some of the bigger broker organisations that perhaps in the past we have not traded with."

He added NIG also wanted to "refresh" its offerings to the local broker market.

Parker will be joined by a four-strong management team comprising: Kevin Buckland, head of broker distribution; Kevan Aubrey, head of marketing; Julian Holloway, head of key account distribution; and Steve Giles, heading up the NIG relationship management with RBS group business partners.

Meanwhile, NIG has appointed Peter Lycholat as head of operations, North.

Lycholat will have respon-sibility for the Glasgow, Ashington, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds regions.