Market moves: Busy as a B

Overall this month it was really all about the Bs with Brit and Bluefin dominating the column inches. There has been a range of metaphors to describe the Market moves developments in the insurance industry over the years. Two prominent ones have been a roundabout and a revolving door. Both inherently suggest that just as many people are coming in as going out. Often it has been the same people either returning to a previous employer, or employees returning to an old boss but at a new location. However, at times in the past month it has felt like there were more goings than comings, although in time this is likely to prove to be due to the new destinations being kept hush-hush – Ash Bathia at QBE and June Lynch at Kwik Fit being two cases in point. Axa-owned Bluefin unveiled a raft of changes and Giles, Stewart Miller, Bollington and Higos all got in on the act too. As did 1 Answer Brokerdrive, Broker Network and technology firm SSP. July may herald the start of the tradition silly season but the news of the moves kept on buzzing.

At QBE, purchaser of Brit’s UK regional business last year, Ash Bathia is on gardening leave. The chief underwriting officer of the provider’s property, casualty and motor (PCM) division has ceased all executive responsibilities. The insurer stated that the existing PCM executive team will be working closely with Richard Pryce, deputy CEO “to ensure continuity to our brokers and clients”.

Over at RSA it emerged that Cathie Bruce had left the role of distribution director by mutual consent. She