Speakers

Professor Adrian Furnham

Adrian Furnham is professor of psychology at University College London. Educated at the London School of Economics and Oxford University, he has lectured at Pembroke College, Oxford, the University of New South Wales, University of the West Indies, Henley Management College and Hong Kong University Business School. He has written over 400 scientific papers and 30 books, and is a fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is on the board of a number of international journals, and is a director of International Society for the Study of Individual Differences and Applied Behaviour Research Associates, a psychological consultancy. Nominated in 2007 as one of the 25 Most Influential People in HR, he has written regularly for HR Magazine as well as national press.

Professor Douglas McWilliams

As a widely known and respected commentator on UK and World economic trends, Douglas McWilliams is chief executive of cebr, one of the UK’s leading specialist economics consultancies, which he founded in 1993. He was the chief economic adviser to the Confederation of British Industry from 1988 to 1992, chief economist for IBM UK (1986-88) and in the 12 years to 1986 held various posts at the CBI. He holds an MA in philosophy, politics and economics, and MPhil in economics, from the University of Oxford.

Phil Bunker, managing director, LV= Broker

After studying for an Economics and Geography degree Phil qualified as a chartered accountant at Price Waterhouse and then worked at Lloyds. In 1990 he joined NIG as financial controller, progressed to personal lines director and then became managing director, when he was instrumental in the sale of NIG to Churchill. He saw NIG double in size to £1 billion GWP. He left NIG following the Royal Bank of Scotland/Direct Line takeover. Phil joined Liverpool Victoria in 2006 and became director of LV= Broker, which encompasses Highway Insurance, ABC Insurance and LV= Commercial.

Mark Cliff, managing director, Fortis Insurance

Mark Cliff joined Fortis Insurance as managing director in 2008, building on the successful and award-winning general insurance business in the UK and focusing on optimising its position in the market as a leading provider of customer-focused insurance solutions. He joined from AXA Insurance, where he held the position of markets, managing director, with responsibility for all distribution channels, commercial branch operations, as well as customer service and marketing. He previously held senior management roles at Royal and Sun Alliance and Royal Insurance, has a wealth of market knowledge, and is a member of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau board and a past chairman of Polaris.

Mike Crane, commercial director, LV= Broker

Mike Crane is commercial director of LV= Broker. Mike started his insurance career with Commercial Union in the late 1980s. Since then he has held a number of senior underwriting and management posts with major UK insurers including RBS Insurance and CGNU. Prior to joining Liverpool Victoria he was head of SME sales and servicing for NIG. He joined LV= in 2008 to establish and lead the development of its commercial broker business.

Theo Duchen, co-CEO, Acturis

Theo Duchen is co-CEO of Acturis. He was previously a partner at McKinsey & Company, having joined McKinsey in 1991 and become a partner in 1997. He led McKinsey's general insurance practice in the UK, was a member of McKinsey's European insurance leadership group, and has worked extensively with both insurers and major international brokers over a period of several years. Theo is an actuary by training.

Fraser Edmond, head of trading and new business, Aviva

Fraser Edmond is responsible for the strategic relationship management and overall performance management of Aviva’s trading relationships with Willis. In addition Fraser leads the UKGI new business team, responsible for delivering new business opportunities across the intermediary, corporate partner and direct channels. Fraser joined Aviva in 1992 and has developed a broad insurance background, with experience in underwriting, operational management, sales management and large account management within both the broker and the corporate partnership insurance marketplace. Fraser lives near Dundee with his wife Samantha and his 4 year old son, who takes up most of his spare time.

Keith Hector, Distribution Director - Commerical Lines Intermediary

Keith Hector joined Legal and General in 1987, working as a claims clerk and progressing to commercial underwriter. He has since held various sales, distribution management and broker development roles at GRE and AXA. He moved to AXA Commercial in November 2008 following a successful period leading the growth of AXA’s personal lines broker relationships as head of distribution. In his current role he leads the sales function and distribution strategy for AXA’s commercial broker business. Keith completed his MBA in 2005. He is married with one child, and his interests include football, music and playing guitar.

Anthony Middle, commerical lines managing director, Axa Insurance

Anthony Middle assumed responsiblity for AXA's intermediated commercial lines business in March 2008, and added the commercial direct and affinity portfolio and marketing services company Ignition in September 2008. He is a member of AXA Insurance's Executive Committee. Anthony joining AXA in 2000 and was initially responsible for establishing a new corporate sales division. He went on to management roles within the partnerships and affinities team, first as head of distribution in 2005, and then as general manager in 2007. Prior to joining AXA, Anthony spent 10 years with Commercial Union, CGU and Norwich Union.

Simon Ronaldson, sales & marketing director, Acturis

Simon Ronaldson has over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, having worked for Commercial Union and Norwich Union, as well as Datamonitor in its Financial Services Division. He is also ACII qualified and has an MBA from Warwick University. Simon is responsible for sales and marketing within Acturis, and fronts many of the high profile customer relationships.

Clark Ross, head of broker key partners, Aviva

Clark was appointed to his current role of Head of Broker Key Partners in November 2009. He has responsibility for driving the company's distribution and sales strategies within selected Key Partners.

Clark joined Aviva in 2006 as a Strategic Account Manager within the broker channel. In 2007 he was appointed Head of New Business. Clark also led the development and launch of the key strategic initiatives of Club 110, Broker Independence Group and most recently Aviva’s rejuvenated Broker Personal Lines offer.

His background includes Sales roles at household brands such as Nestle and Del Monte.

Clark lives in Norfolk with his wife, Pamela and two children.

Barry Smith, CEO, Fortis

Barry Smith has been chief executive of Fortis since 2001. Most recently, as part of a Fortis Group management restructure, Barry has joined the Group’s Management Committee, reporting directly to Fortis Group CEO, Bart De Smet and taking joint responsibility for defining and implementing corporate strategy, business plans, budgets and operational activities across Fortis' global companies in both the life and non-life markets. Barry was also recently appointed president of the CII, having been heavily involved for many years, particularly with local branches in Gloucester and Southampton. He is chairman of the ABI Motor Committee and a member of the ABI GIC Management Committee.

Alasdair Stewart, head of corporate development, CII

Prior to joining the insurance industry Alasdair worked at Arla Foods Ingredients in Denmark where he had responsibility for marketing and communications. He joined Independent Insurance in 1998 and subsequently AXA in 2001. Alasdair was responsible for developing e-Commerce strategies for both organisations and managing implementation. In 2002 Alasdair took the position of business development director at Aurora Corporate Services, an insurance TPA, and following its successful sale in 2004, he moved to FWD Marketing where he was a senior consultant. Alasdair joined the CII in December 2008, he has overall responsibility for corporate relationships within GI and manages the business development team.

David Thomson, head of policy and public affairs, CII

David joined the CII in 2007 as director of policy and public affairs with responsibility for the CII’s policy development, thought leadership and research agenda as well as its political and regulatory relationships and public affairs strategy. He has been instrumental in developing the CII’s response on raising professional standards, to the FSA’s RDR and developing the CII’s research programme, including its innovative thinkpiece series, as well as overseeing the CII’s annual report. Prior to his time at the CII he was head of strategy and planning, public policy at Barclays PLC, where his role spanned the whole of the Barclays group of businesses.