On the QT: Bunch of old farts

In his latest instalment of market gossip, mystery blogger Sid writes for Insurancetimes.co.uk...

I’m expecting an announcement soon about a senior appointment at Brit that will raise some eyebrows. Do let me know – on the QT, of course – who you think the lucky candidate is, and whether a resignation and garden leave of a certain operator will be the prelude to a formal announcement.

I’m told that one well-known broker chief exec was sounding off at the CII President’s dinner a few weeks ago about the secrecy surrounding the appointment of a new chairman of the broker faculty to succeed David Slade. Drop me a line if you have any inside info, since I’m out of such Masonic circles these days.

Talking of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, what are they up to these days – or is it just a dinner club for old farts? WCI does so much for charity, but do they tell anybody?

Meanwhile, I’ve been asked whether I believe Chris Giles is thinning out his management team in preparation for a takeover of Oval. Two points: a) people leave Chris because he is impossible to work for b) Hodgie at Oval has just declared he will stay on until his 70th birthday in 2015. So, yes, there must be a deal in the offing!

Despite my retirement, I have been invited by one of the sponsors to attend the Biba Conference after all, and can’t wait to visit the Quinn stand and buy a ticket in their Biba raffle – to win a stay at a Quinn Group hotel. I’ll try to pick up their insurances if I am successful.

Biba should also be a hairspotter’s dream. Joe Plumeri’s bonce is a sheer engineering ‘must see’, not to mention Bob Beckett’s curious fringe, Andy Homer’s ‘Flymo’ look and Richard Ward’s royal quiff.

Email me: sid@insurancetimes.co.uk or leave your comments here.