HDI to merge two key units of UK & Irish business in strategic move

Industrial lines insurer  HDI is to merge two key functions in its UK & Irish operations in a bid to streamline structure to help enhance its trading relationships and deploy risk capital more strategically.

The distribution and marketing teams of HDI Global SE and HDI Global Specialty SE are being brought together under one team, effective January 1, 2023.

To lead this new team, HDI has appointed Oliver Davies as director of distribution & marketing, reporting to Stephanie Ogden, managing director, HDI Global SE UK & Ireland.

All broker strategic relationship managers from both businesses will now report directly to Davies. As part of these structural changes, HDI also intend to appoint a head of marketing to lead the marketing activity across the entire UK & Ireland business.

John Button will continue in his role as head of global distribution and business development for HDI Global Specialty SE with a focus on branches outside of the UK & Ireland. Button will continue to report into HDI UK & Ireland CEO Richard Taylor in his role as board member and chief marketing officer for HDI Global Specialty SE.

Ogden said: “This is an exciting time for our company. These changes demonstrate to the market the importance we place on our business relationships. It shows we listen and will take the necessary steps to deliver a consistent proposition by putting our partners at the heart of our decisions.”

Davies added: “I am delighted to be taking on this new role at what is an important time for our business. These changes deliver on our commitment to our partners and present one face to the market. The new structure will streamline our ability to manage our trading relationships in the UK and Ireland and will allow us to deploy risk capital where our clients need our expertise.”