Willis Networks and Broker Direct have played down suggestions they could lose members, as Broker Network and Purple eye opportunities.
The Willis N2 network and Broker Direct’s Our Network announced a deal this week to let brokers from each side access the products of the other.
Broker Network has appealed for brokers from Our Network to ignore the Willis deal and join Broker Network.
Broker Network managing director Nick Houghton said: “I am asking Our Network members to contact me and I will personally guarantee that for those businesses best suited to our range of membership options, we will make their broking activities easier, more productive and most importantly, we will make them more money.
“We believe that a ‘one size fits all’ transfer of members from one network to another may not suit the requirements of many fiercely independent broking businesses.”
Purple managing director Les Brewin said: “I agree with Nick Houghton that one size doesn’t fit all and I think Our Network members would benefit from exploring other options rather than being herded in one direction. Naturally we’d be very happy to have a dialogue with any broker to help them decide what’s the best fit for them.”
Broker Direct chief executive Terry Stanley said: “They and the other networks obviously see an opportunity there. I don’t think that opportunity exists to be perfectly honest.
“We’ve already spoken to more than 100 of the Our Network members and had a really positive response from them about the arrangement we’ve come to with Willis.”
Willis Networks managing director Sara Fardon said several Willis Networks members had already entered into the agreement.
“We want to make sure we are offering brokers in both networks the best of both worlds,” she added.
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