Zurich’s newly-appointed executive general manager – commercial, Adrian Riminton, has revealed that his top priority is to assist the insurer in streamlining underwriting processes that will ensure decisions are made as close to the broker as possible.
Riminton, who replaces Bobby Lehane and started his new role last week, is in charge of the SME and mid-market portfolio and ensuring the portfolio meets the needs of brokers and customers.
He told
Insurance Business that brokers are his top priority: “We have a focus on streamlining our processes because we really want to get the underwriting decisions made as close to the broker as possible. At the moment we have an organisation with multi-levels. We want to reduce that and ensure decisions are made much closer to the front line.”
Riminton, who will be meeting brokers in the next couple of weeks, added: “I want to make sure I have a clear understanding of brokers’ needs and a clear understanding of the dynamics of the market. I also want to improve my understanding of where we see the market going in the next few years.”
Zurich is also aiming to help brokers navigate a world of fast-paced technological change. Riminton said Zurich will invest more in data management and data capabilities and will leverage its global expertise: “Part of our role is to help brokers negotiate emerging risks and technological change better as well as for us to have propositions and processes that can deal with changing market conditions. We want to be ahead of the change and be even more innovative.”
Prior to joining Zurich’s Australian operation, Riminton was the general manager of the New Zealand business. He will retain ongoing oversight of the Kiwi operation, passing on this skills, experience and knowledge to his predecessor. He says this “will only take up a small portion of my time”.
Asked what attracted him to the new role, Riminton concluded: “The opportunity to further leverage Zurich’s strengths and knowledge, to apply them to the market and to strengthen our position in the market.”
