In the wake of the recent acquisition of FrontierMEDEX by UnitedHealthcare International (UHI), Bruce Kirby, MEDEX’s president since 2000, and Tom Hudson (pictured), long-time general counsel, have left the company.
Collinson Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Greg Lawson as head of retail. Greg’s appointment was made as part of the group’s long-term growth strategy and is another step forward in developing Collinson Insurance Group’s retail offering – including its travel insurance brands Columbus Direct, Club Direct and Preferential Direct.
Combined Insurance has announced that Chris Harrison has been appointed as executive vice president and general manager for Europe, assuming overall leadership responsibility for the company’s European business – both sales and operations. Chris has 25 years’ experience leading a number of insurance businesses – including health, accident, protection and travel product lines – as well a developing growth strategies in the UK and Europe. He joins from Simplyhealth Group, where he spent the last 10 years focusing on direct to consumer health insurance.
John Boon, the head of membership services at the European Tour Operators Association, died at the end of April after suffering a heart attack. Boon only joined the organisation in January this year, following a long and distinguished career in inbound tourism. He was a former chairman of the then British Incoming Tour Operators Association (now UKinbound), but his career in the travel industry covered roles with Global Tours, American Express, Sovereign Tourism and JAC Travel.
Boon had been working on forging new alliances for the European Tour Operators Association when he was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of April. While seemingly recovering well from a subsequent operation, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
The board of Hiscox has announced with great sadness the death of Sir Mervyn Pedelty, the company's senior independent director and chairman of the remuneration and nomination committee. Robert Hiscox, chairman of the insurer, said: “I was deeply saddened by the news of Sir Mervyn's death. He joined the board in 2005 and his counsel and advice has been invaluable. We are very grateful for his years of hard work on the board and, on behalf of all at the company, we convey our deepest sympathy to his family.”
Zurich Financial Services Ltd has announced proposals to elect 61-year-old Josef Ackermann to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on March 30 this year. Ackermann has accepted the nomination following the retirement of board member Philippe Pidoux, whose decision not to be put up for re-election was addressed at last year’s annual meeting. Nominated for his extensive experience within the financial services industry, Ackerman has held several senior positions, including chairman of the management board of Deutsche bank in 2006 and president of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (SKA) in 1993. He is also a member of the Supervisory board of Siemens AG, Germany, of Royal Dutch Shell plc, Holland and of Belenos Clean Power Holding Ltd, Biel.
ONE Group has announced the expansion of its business into the medically impaired sector, and has appointed Iain Sykes as managing director of the new company, which will launch in June this year under the name goodtogoinsurance.com. The company will specialise in travel insurance for medically impaired travellers, with no upper age limit imposed. Iain has played an instrumental role in the development of the proposition, based on his 40 years’ insurance industry experience, the last decade of which has been focused on travellers with pre-existing medical conditions. Speaking of his appointment, Iain said: “I am delighted to be joining the ONE Group, which has firmly established itself in the travel insurance sector for high-quality customer services, combined with an innovate approach to insurance solutions. The company’s insurewithease.com brand regularly achieves top ratings on a number of consumer websites, and its claims handling and assistance divisions are highly regarded within the industry.”
Iain is working with Danny Palmer, who has recently been appointed insurance manager for the company. Danny has worked in the travel insurance industry since 1993, predominantly focusing on services for the tour operator/travel agent sector working for a number of major brokers.
Combined Insurance has announced that Chris Harrison has been appointed as executive vice president and general manager for Europe, assuming overall leadership responsibility for the company’s European business – both sales and operations.
In the wake of the recent acquisition of FrontierMEDEX by UnitedHealthcare International (UHI), Bruce Kirby, MEDEX’s president since 2000, and Tom Hudson (pictured), long-time general counsel, have left the company.
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has announced that Andy Homer will become chairman of the trade association in January 2012. 
Andrew Lee has been appointed as director of air ambulance services for Synergy Air Ambulance. 
Collinson Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Greg Lawson as head of retail. Greg’s appointment was made as part of the group’s long-term growth strategy and is another step forward in developing Collinson Insurance Group’s retail offering – including its travel insurance brands Columbus Direct, Club Direct and Preferential Direct.
Combined Insurance has announced that Chris Harrison has been appointed as executive vice president and general manager for Europe, assuming overall leadership responsibility for the company’s European business – both sales and operations. Chris has 25 years’ experience leading a number of insurance businesses – including health, accident, protection and travel product lines – as well a developing growth strategies in the UK and Europe. He joins from Simplyhealth Group, where he spent the last 10 years focusing on direct to consumer health insurance.
John Boon, the head of membership services at the European Tour Operators Association, died at the end of April after suffering a heart attack. Boon only joined the organisation in January this year, following a long and distinguished career in inbound tourism. He was a former chairman of the then British Incoming Tour Operators Association (now UKinbound), but his career in the travel industry covered roles with Global Tours, American Express, Sovereign Tourism and JAC Travel.
The board of Hiscox has announced with great sadness the death of Sir Mervyn Pedelty, the company's senior independent director and chairman of the remuneration and nomination committee. Robert Hiscox, chairman of the insurer, said: “I was deeply saddened by the news of Sir Mervyn's death. He joined the board in 2005 and his counsel and advice has been invaluable. We are very grateful for his years of hard work on the board and, on behalf of all at the company, we convey our deepest sympathy to his family.”
Zurich Financial Services Ltd has announced proposals to elect 61-year-old Josef Ackermann to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on March 30 this year. Ackermann has accepted the nomination following the retirement of board member Philippe Pidoux, whose decision not to be put up for re-election was addressed at last year’s annual meeting. Nominated for his extensive experience within the financial services industry, Ackerman has held several senior positions, including chairman of the management board of Deutsche bank in 2006 and president of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (SKA) in 1993. He is also a member of the Supervisory board of Siemens AG, Germany, of Royal Dutch Shell plc, Holland and of Belenos Clean Power Holding Ltd, Biel.
ONE Group has announced the expansion of its business into the medically impaired sector, and has appointed Iain Sykes as managing director of the new company, which will launch in June this year under the name goodtogoinsurance.com. The company will specialise in travel insurance for medically impaired travellers, with no upper age limit imposed. Iain has played an instrumental role in the development of the proposition, based on his 40 years’ insurance industry experience, the last decade of which has been focused on travellers with pre-existing medical conditions. Speaking of his appointment, Iain said: “I am delighted to be joining the ONE Group, which has firmly established itself in the travel insurance sector for high-quality customer services, combined with an innovate approach to insurance solutions. The company’s insurewithease.com brand regularly achieves top ratings on a number of consumer websites, and its claims handling and assistance divisions are highly regarded within the industry.”
Combined Insurance has announced that Chris Harrison has been appointed as executive vice president and general manager for Europe, assuming overall leadership responsibility for the company’s European business – both sales and operations.