1. LLOYDS
Address: 1 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HA
t: 020 7327 1000
f: 020 7626 2389
w: www.lloyds.com
e: helpdesk@lloyds.com
Chief officer: Richard Ward, chief executive officer
Year established: 1688
Number of UK offices: 2
Number of UK employees: Approximately 650
Main lines of business: Main lines of business: Casualty (22%), property (22%), reinsurance (34%), motor (6%), marine (7%), energy (7%), aviation (2%).
Company history: Lloyd's began in Edward Lloyd's Thames-side coffee house in Tower Street in the City of London. Although the exact date of its establishment is unknown, evidence exists that Lloyd's coffee house was well-known in London business circles by 1688.
Lloyd himself was not involved in insurance but provided premises, reliable shipping news and a variety of services to enable his clientele of ships' captains, merchants and rich men to carry on their business of insuring ships and their cargoes.
The wealthy individuals in the coffee house would each take a share of a risk, signing their names one beneath the other on the policy, together with the amount they agreed to cover. For this reason they were known as 'underwriters'. Lloyd died in 1713 but the coffee house continued to prosper as a centre for marine insurance.
By the end of the 18th century the underwriters had elected a committee and moved to their own premises in the Royal Exchange. Only members of Lloyd's were allowed to accept insurance business.
The Society of Lloyd's was incorporated by the Lloyd's Act 1871 which provided the business with a sound legal basis and laid the foundations for today's market.
By the beginning of the twentieth century the traditional club of marine underwriters had become an international market for insurance risks of almost every type.
Chief officer biography: Richard Ward joined Lloyd's as chief executive officer in April 2006. Previously, Ward worked for over 10 years at the London-based International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), rebranded ICE Futures, as both chief executive officer and vice-chairman. Prior to the IPE, he held a range of senior positions at British Petroleum (BP) and was head of marketing & business development for energy derivatives worldwide at Tradition Financial Services. Between 1982 and 1988, Ward worked as a senior physicist with the Science and Engineering Research Council, leading a number of research and development projects.
Richard Ward has a 1st class honours degree in Chemistry, and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Exeter University. He is married with two children and lives in London.
2. AVIVA
Address: St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ
t: 020 7283 2000
e: helpdesk@norwich-union.co.uk
info_aviva@aviva.co.uk
w: www.norwichunion.com
www.aviva.com
Chief officer: Igal Mayer, chief executive Norwich Union Insurance
Norwich Union Insurance Ltd Registered office: 8 Surrey Street, Norwich, NR1 3NG
Number of UK offices: 52
Number of UK employees: 22,000
Main lines of business: Household, motor, commercial, travel, creditor, roadside assistance
Major shareholders: Norwich Union Insurance is wholly owned by Aviva. Barclays Plc hold 5.93% of the total voting rights. Legal & General Group Plc hold 3.59%. Axa SA and its Group companies hold a total of 10.34% (of which 9.13% is held non beneficially)
Company history: Norwich Union was founded in Norwich over 200 years ago by Thomas Bignold, a 36-year-old wine merchant and banker. Bignold had been unable to find anyone willing to insure him against the threat from highwaymen. With entrepreneurial thought that nothing was impossible, and aware that in a city built largely of wood the threat of fire was uppermost in people's minds, Bignold formed the Norwich Union Society for the Insurance of Houses, Stock and Merchandise from Fire.
During its bicentenary year, Norwich Union demutualised and floated as a public company on the London Stock Exchange, transforming itself into a FTSE 100 company. The £2.4bn raised in the share offer was the largest sum ever raised in a British sector flotation.
In 2000, Norwich Union merged with CGU to create CGNU plc. The Norwich Union name was retained for the long-term savings and general insurance businesses in the UK.
Aviva, Norwich Union's parent company, announced its acquisition of the RAC in 2005. The acquisition brings together the RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance.
Chief officer Biography: Igal Mayer became chief executive, Norwich Union General Insurance, in July 2007, having been president and chief executive officer of Aviva Canada since May 2001.
Igal joined Aviva in Canada in 1989 and has held senior positions within the organisation including chief financial officer and executive vice-president with responsibility for claims, reinsurance and actuarial.
3. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
Address: Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1DP
t: 020 8313 3030
w: www.rbs.co.uk
Chief officer: Chris Sullivan, chief executive
Year established: 2003
Number of UK employees: 18,500
Major shareholders: Wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland
Main lines of business: Personal and commercial lines
Company history: RBS Insurance was formed on 1 September 2003 after the newly-acquired Churchill Insurance business was brought together with the former Direct Line business by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
RBS Insurance comprises many well known insurance brands including Churchill, Direct Line, Privilege, Green Flag, UKI Partnerships and NIG. Its businesses underwrite and sell car, home, commercial and other insurance over the telephone and internet as well as through partnerships and a network of brokers.
Chief officer Biography: Chris Sullivan was appointed chief executive of RBS Insurance in November 2006.
In 2006, RBS Insurance's total income was £5.6bn - a 3% increase on the previous year - and pre-tax profits were £964m also a 3% increase on the previous year.
Before joining RBS Insurance, Sullivan was chief executive of retail and deputy chief executive of retail markets within the Royal Bank of Scotland group where he was instrumental in bringing together the successful combination of the former retail banking and direct channels unit as one business. His proven track record for growing businesses was demonstrated in the five years he was chief executive of Lombard Asset Finance where he developed the business to a leadership position in the UK and Europe.
Prior to this, he was chief executive of RBS group's UK and European businesses in cards and consumer finance, primarily delivered through The Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and MINT Credit Card brands, Direct Line Financial Services, Lombard Direct and The One account.
4. ROYAL & SUN ALLIANCE
UK address: Leadenhall Court, 1 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 1PP
t: 0845 077 2772
w: www.royalsun.com
Chief officer: Bridget McIntyre, UK Chief Executive
Major shareholders: Wholly owned by Royal Insurance Holdings plc
Number of UK offices: Around 20
Number of UK employees: Around 9,000
Main lines of business: Royal & SunAlliance covers the insurance and risk management needs of a significant number of FTSE 100 companies. It has a full multi-distribution capability, writing business through brokers and corporate partners, direct and online. Royal & SunAlliance is also one of the UK's top three personal motor and household insurers.
Subsidiaries: British Aviation Insurance Company (57.1%) (general insurance). The Globe Insurance Company (general insurance). The Marine Insurance Company (general insurance). Martello Underwriting Limited (general insurance). Royal International Insurance Holdings (general insurance). Royal & SunAlliance Reinsurance Limited (general insurance). SunAlliance and London Insurance plc (general insurance). Sun Insurance Office ltd (general insurance).
Company history: Royal & SunAlliance is one of the world's leading multinational quoted insurance groups, with the capacity to write business in over 130 countries and with major operations in the UK, Scandinavia, Canada, Ireland, the Middle East and Latin America. Focusing on general insurance, it has around 21,000 employees and, in 2006, its net written premiums were £5.5bn. With an almost 300 year heritage Royal & SunAlliance is the oldest insurance company in the world still trading under its original name.
Chief officer biography: Bridget McIntyre became UK chief executive officer of Royal & SunAlliance in November 2005. She is responsible for a business with over 9,000 employees. It's personal business includes the popular MORE TH>N brand.
Royal & SunAlliance is a also a major commercial insurer insuring well-known landmarks such as Tower Bridge, the Bank of England, Canary Wharf and the Royal Liver Buildings. It is also one of the largest marine insurers outside Lloyds of London.
Before joining Royal & SunAlliance, McIntyre worked for Norwich Union for 13 years in a variety of roles including finance director of the general insurance business, finance director for UK long term savings, and sales, marketing & underwriting director of Norwich Union's general insurance business. In this last role, McIntyre was in charge of the retail strategy for Norwich Union Direct including its "Quote me Happy" campaign.
As a qualified chartered management accountant, during her earlier career McIntyre worked in various finance roles at Volvo UK, the publisher Harper Collins and Marconi Radar Systems, having started her career as a finance trainee at Willis Faber.
In a personal capacity McIntyre is a member of the Government's Financial Inclusion Task force.
5. AXA
Address: AXA Insurance, One Aldgate, London, EC3N 1RE
T: 020 7702 3109
F: 020 7369 3909
w: www.axa.co.uk
Chief officer: Peter Hubbard, chief executive
Major shareholders: AXA SA (100%)
Number of UK offices: 23
Number of UK employees: 4,000
Main lines of business: Personal lines: motor; home; travel; pet; motorcycle; caravan; pleasure craft; creditor; and warranty.
Commercial lines: commercial property; property owners; commercial motor; employers' liability; public liability; business interruption.
Company history: AXA has a strong, long-standing history. The group can trace its roots right back to the 18th century. After a succession of mergers, acquisitions and name changes involving some of the leading insurance companies in the UK and around the world, the name AXA was first introduced in 1985.
In recent years:
1985: The name AXA is created and Mutuelles Unies is rebranded.
1986: AXA Universite is launched. Its objective is to provide managers with a clear vision of the group's strategy, helping them to lead and develop their staff.
1987: Compagnie du Midi acquires Equity & Law.
1988: AXA merges with the Compagnie du Midi and is traded on the Paris Stock Exchange. UAP becomes a major shareholder in Sun Life, in the UK. GRE acquires the leading Irish general insurer, PMPA Insurance.
1990: AXA Insurance formed in Cardiff.
1991: AXA takes over The Equitable, the North American life assurance firm.
1996: AXA is listed on New York Stock Exchange and Sun Life and Provincial Holdings (SLPH) is listed on the London Stock Exchange. On 12 November the AXA - UAP merger is announced. SLPH is now part of the global AXA group and is its major subsidiary in the UK. GRE acquires RAC Insurance Services.
1998: AXA wins the sponsorship of the FA Cup in the UK.
1999: In February, SLPH announces a public offer for GRE and the acquisition is completed in May.
2000: On 12 July AXA completes the acquisition of the minority shareholding in Sun Life and Provincial Holdings - which is consequently delisted from the London Stock Exchange. On 29 September the name of the holding company changes to AXA UK plc.
Chief officer Biography: Peter Hubbard took the helm at AXA Insurance when he joined AXA UK at the end of 2001. He has a clear vision for the future of the business and of the insurance industry as a whole.
A committed moderniser, Hubbard is determined that AXA should be at the forefront of a new breed of insurance company - drawing on diverse skills and new technologies to put the customer experience at the heart of the business.
6. ZURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP
Head office: Zurich Financial Services, Mythenquai 2, PO Box CH-08022, Zurich, Switzerland
UK address: Zurich House, Stanhope Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 1DU
T: 08000 966 233 or 01793 511 227
W: www.zurich.co.uk
Chief officer: Guy Munnoch, Chief Executive Officer, Zurich.
Year established: Zurich Insurance Company is founded in 1872 in Switzerland and a branch was established in Great Britain, with headquarters in London in 1922.
Number of UK offices: 18
Number of UK employees: 8500
Main lines of business: Personal Insurance, Commercial lines, Public Ssctor, Corporate businesses
Company history: Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the group is
headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 58,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries.
7. AIG
Address:
The AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AB
T: 020 7954 7000
F: 020 7954 7001
W: www.AIG.co.uk
e: marketing.uk@aig.com
Chief officer: Daniel Glaser, managing director
AIG Europe (UK) Ltd
Year established: 1953
Parent: American International Group Inc (AIG)
Number of UK branch offices: 11
Number of UK staff: approx. 1,200
Number of UK general insurance agents: 1,500
Main lines of business: Accident and health; aviation; casualty, energy; financial lines; property; trade and political risk; environmental; crisis management; marine and mergers; and acquisitions
Subsidiaries: UNAT Direct Insurance Management; AIG Medical & Rehabilitation; AIG Consultants Limited; AIG Medical & Rehabilitation Limited; AIG Property Limited; AIG Trade Finance Limited; Direct Travel Insurance Services Limited; Techmark Services Limited
Company history: Based in London, AIG Europe (UK) has been providing insurance solutions for UK businesses, public sector organisations and individuals for over 50 years.
During this period it has developed new products to keep up with ever-changing needs of modern businesses, including management, internet and environmental liabilities, employee benefits and crisis management protection.
Its innovation and extensive local underwriting experience underpins its ability to provide genuinely differentiated products to meet the needs of UK brokers and their clients.
Other key personnel:
Kelly Lyles, commercial lines; Mike Giblin, client management; Steve Agutter, claims; Nicola Maclennan, marketing; Nigel Childs, finance; Brian Reilly, accident and health; Tom Doherty, corporate risks
8. ACE EUROPEAN GROUP
Address: The Ace Building, 100 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP
t: 020 7173 7000
f: 020 7173 7800
e: info.uk@ace-ina.com
w: www.aceeuropeangroup.com
Chief officer: Andrew Kendrick, chairman and chief executive
Year established: 1985
Number of UK offices: 13
Number of UK employees: 1, 100
Main lines of business: Property and casualty; accident and health; aviation; captives; energy; directors' and officers'; technical lines; claims; political risk and credit; marine; financial institutions; professional lines
Subsidiaries: Ace Underwriting Agencies (Ace Global Markets Syndicate 2488); Ace Tempest Re (Europe)
Company history: Ace European Group is part of the global Ace group of companies which was formed in 1985. The Ace group of companies is one of the world's leading global commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Headed by Ace Limited (NYSE: ACE), a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, the Ace Group has operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries. It carries A+ ratings from Standard and Poor's and AM Best.
Ace European Group has FSA permissions to underwrite all 18 classes of insurance and reinsurance business through its established branch network in 19 countries, Freedom of Services permissions to underwrite business in 30 European countries, excess and surplus lines eligibility in 37 US states and the ability to underwrite reinsurance in most countries.
Chief executive biography: Andrew Kendrick was appointed to the position of chairman and chief executive, Ace European Group in November 2004. In his role he oversees Ace's operations in 19 European countries and the activities of over 2,000 employees. Prior to his appointment, he served as president and chief executive, Ace Bermuda.
Kendrick joined Ace in 1996, after over 25 years of insurance industry experience. Originally working in London, his previous position at Ace was as director of underwriting and active underwriter of Syndicate 2488 at Lloyd's, which forms Ace Global Markets.
Kendrick started his career at Sturge Syndicate 210 in 1978. With a focus on underwriting the financial institutions account, he held various positions within that syndicate and other syndicates owned by the Sturge Group. Kendrick has worked at Ace since ACE purchased Ockham Underwriting Agency (previously known as Sturge Underwriting Agency.
9. BUPA
Address: BUPA House, 15-19 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2BA
T : 0800 332000
F : 0161 931 5313
E-mail : intercom@bupa.com
W : www.bupa.com
Chief executive officer : Val Gooding, CBE
Year established : 1947
Number of UK offices : n/a
Number of UK employees : 40,000
Major shareholders : BUPA has no shareholders and any surplus after tax is reinvested into improved health and care facilities such as medical equipment, the latest technology and buildings.
Main lines of business : BUPA’s main interests are health insurance, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services.
Company history:
For over half a century BUPA has been dedicated to caring for people's health. Its services have grown from funding treatment, to providing treatment and care, to preventing illness and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
BUPA was created in order to prevent, relieve and cure sickness and ill health of every kind and it is still the UK’s leading independent health and care organisation.
BUPA began as The British United Provident Association in 1947 to preserve freedom of choice in health care. Sixty years on, the company remains true to its founding principles.
Since 1947, BUPA has been a private company limited by guarantee. It has no shareholders and any surplus after tax is reinvested. The company has around 8 million customers in more than 190 countries worldwide.
Its main interests are health insurance, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services. BUPA Travel offers a bespoke travel insurance service. Sanitas in Spain, HBA in Australia, IHI in Denmark and AMEDEX in the US are all part of the BUPA Group, which also has centres in Hong-Kong, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
Chief officer biography:
Val Gooding was appointed as BUPA’s chief executive in August 1998. She joined the board and BUPA in 1996 as managing director of the UK health insurance and hospitals businesses.
In 2006, Gooding was awarded the PwC Lifetime Achievement Award at the CBI First Women Awards and in the Financial Times poll of Europe's top 25 business women, she featured third.
Gooding is a non-executive director of J Sainsbury plc (since January 2007) and of Standard Chartered Bank plc (since January 2005). She is also vice president of the International Federation of Health Plans, a trustee of the British Museum and a non-executive director of the Lawn Tennis Association.
Before joining BUPA, she held a number of senior positions with British Airways.
Gooding was awarded the CBE for services to business in the 2002 New Year’s Honours list.
10. The Co-operative Group
Address: Miller Street, Manchester, M60 4ES
T: 0161 832 8686
F: 0161 837 4048
W: www.co-op.co.uk
Chief officer: David Anderson
No of regional offices (UK): 18 regional selling offices, 5 regional claims offices
Key personnel:
John Reizenstein Chief Financial Officer
Stephan Pater Chief Operating Officer
Cathy Wilcher Human Resources Director
Mike Fairbairn Compliance Director
Dick Parkhouse Change Management Director
Gerry Pennell Chief Information Officer
Major shareholders: The Co-operative Group
Lines of business: Life, savings, investments, general insurance
Total number of employees: 9,000
Recent sales/acquisitions: None
Name of direct arm: Co-operative Insurance (www.cis.co.uk)
Year company established: 1867
Company history: The movement began in Rochdale in 1844. As the idea developed and more societies opened shops, it became clear that their insurance arrangements were inadequate, and an insurance company was formed.
The Co-operative Insurance Company was registered on 29 August 1867. In 1869, the company expanded its business into fidelity guarantee insurance.
In July 1871, the head office moved from its premises in Rochdale to Manchester, where it has remained ever since.
Until the mid 1880s, the company offered only fire and fidelity guarantee insurance, but in February 1886 it began issuing life policies. In 1899, industrial life business was also introduced and the company was converted into an industrial and provident society. The amended rules were registered on 11 March and since then the company has been called the Co-operative Insurance Society.
Other classes of business were provided for the general public and not just for co-operative societies and their members.
By 1908, a new head office had been built at 109 Corporation Street, Manchester. By 1912 there were offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bradford, Newcastle, London and Dublin. In 1909 the society became a non-tariff insurer.
In June 1913, the shares of the society were taken over by the Co-operative Wholesale Society and the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society. Today CWS and its directors are still the society's only shareholders.
A separate motor department was opened during the 1920s and, by 1930, motor income exceeded £500,000 per annum.
In August 1962 a new building was opened at Miller Street to house the growing number of staff, not more than 100 yards from the society's old office. This imposing building now houses approximately 2,500 staff.
