Ageas has reaffirmed its strategic focus on the personal lines market with the addition of Neil Mercier (pictured) to the team as head of standard motor. Mercier, who will report into Glyn Hughes, director of personal lines underwriting & pricing, brings a wealth of experience amassed from several previous senior underwriting positions at AXA, Direct Line Group and most recently Aviva.
In his new role, Mercier will lead the management and development of the underwriting strategy for Ageas’s standard motor portfolio. In a Press release, Ageas noted that this portfolio sits at the heart of the insurer’s ambition to become a focused leader in personal lines insurance traded through intermediaries.
Commenting on the hire, Hughes highlighted that Mercier’s “wealth of insight” into personal lines makes him the ideal fit as Ageas looks to zero in on what it does best – personal lines insurance, digitally traded through intermediated channels.
“Our most recent broker feedback shows underwriting expertise is one of the biggest areas in which we satisfy our brokers,” he said, “and I’m pleased we’re adding to that expertise even further with Neil’s addition to the team.”
Mercier added: “Ageas has a well-earned reputation as a great insurer to work for and I’m excited to be a part of the team. Working for a business that has a clear direction is always a recipe for success and it’s something that Ageas has in spades with its latest strategy, combined with its strong heritage as a motor insurer.”
Mercier takes the reins from Rob Clark, who has departed to take on a new challenge after seven years with the insurer. Commenting on Clark’s decision to step away, Hughes thanked him for all his achievements and dedication over his tenure, particularly his contribution to the recent delivery of Ageas’s new simplified motor product for brokers.
