Capita Insurance Distribution announces that David Seel, managing director of its pet insurance arm Thornside, has been appointed chairman of the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Pet Insurance Committee. The committee represents the interests of pet insurance underwriters in the UK and encourages interaction with key industry bodies such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA).
David has been a member of the committee for three years and commenting on his new role, said: “This is an important body for an ever-growing industry. I hope to provide some real added value to the members and extend the role of the committee.”
The chairman’s role is to maintain continued and improved interaction with key industry bodies and encourage a better understanding of customers and partners’ needs.
David added: “As a committee, I believe we can set improved benchmark ratings and definitions for certain products and with the help of key veterinary bodies, we can create a stronger framework for understanding current and potential challenges relating to costs and products.”
David has worked in the insurance industry for the majority of his working life. Originally a director of Hogg Robinson Limited (London), this was followed by a long period as a director of Swire Fraser Limited, Lloyd’s insurance brokers. David formed Thornside in 1999 as a pet insurance specialist, which became wholly owned by Capita Insurance Distribution (formerly known as BDML) in 2005.
The ABI’s Pet Insurance Committee, formerly the Pet Insurance Forum, represents approximately 98 per cent of the pet insurance market.
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Capita Insurance Distribution, part of Capita Insurance Services, is the fifth largest UK personal lines insurance intermediary and third party administrator specialising in personal lines solutions for affinity clients. Capita Insurance Distribution employs over 800 staff (based in Portsmouth, Colchester, Ipswich, Romford, Andover and St Ives in Cambridge) and administers around £200m of personal lines gross written insurance premium. It works with 49 insurance companies in the UK personal lines market place, and currently maintains different product sites for 82 household brands such as Asda, Liverpool Victoria and Admiral. Further information can be found at www.bdml.co.uk
Thornside, the pet insurance division of Capita Insurance Distribution, administers more than 35 Pet Schemes for affinity Partners, and insures approximately 300,000 dogs and cats in the UK; including schemes for Home Retail Group, Halifax Bank, esure, RSPCA, Greenbee, AA, Asda and Debenhams.
The Capita Group Plc is the UK’s leading provider of BPO and integrated professional support service solutions. With 36,000 people at more than 300 sites, including 60 business centres across the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and India, the Group uses its expertise, infrastructure and scale benefits to transform its clients’ services, driving down costs and adding value. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L), and is a constituent of the FTSE100 with revenues for 2008 of £2,441 million. Further information on The Capita Group Plc can be found at: www.capita.co.uk