Longhawk Group transfers claims divisions to Direct Group
02/02/2009 12:00:00 by Marketing
Longhawk Group is delighted to announce the transfer of its Nexus and Travel Protection Services (TPS) claims administration services to Direct Group as part of an ongoing commitment to improve service.
Claims administration in Nexus and TPS covers a broad skill set across a wide range of products within the property, travel and liability market. This includes specialist teams handling schemes for Social Housing, Let Property and Wedding insurances. In addition, the Nexus team has significant industry experience of Employers and Public Liability, Professional Indemnity & Legal Expenses claims handling.
Howard Posner, Chairman of Longhawk Group said: “This partnership with Direct Group offers a quality claims service - a crucial part of any successful insurance business. The transfer offers Longhawk Group and our customers enhanced service standards, drawing upon Direct Group’s wealth of experience in claims administration and their enhanced systems and processing capabilities.”
Derek Coles, Direct Group’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “The transfer of Nexus and TPS strengthens our existing relationship with Longhawk Group and provides us with a platform to grow services in the Travel and Liability markets. It marks the continued development of our strategy to offer a leading multi-product administration model across a number of markets."
“The team of highly experienced claims professionals at Longhawk Group,headed up by Graeme Bell, will enhance and strengthen Direct Group’s operations from which we can further develop the services and offering, to benefit Longhawk Groupand its customers. I am obviously delighted to welcome Graeme and the two teams into Direct Group.”
Notes to Editors
Longhawk Group
Operating from offices in Leeds, Norwich and London, Longhawk Group is a leading independent provider of specialist insurance solutions generating premiums of over £150m from a large range of products. Formed in 2002 the company is part of the Primary Group of companies.
Longhawk, which recently rebranded from UK Underwriting, has a unique combination of expertise, people, systems and access to underwriting capacity. Commercially innovative, technically agile and highly market-aware, the Group is able to leverage industry-leading expertise in partnership with some of the largest retail and consumer brands in the UK. Our own direct channels deliver high quality, carefully tailored, regulatory-compliant and sustainable specialist insurance products to end-customers. The current portfolio includes travel, property, legal, warranty, automotive-related and other specialised niche products. Longhawk will continue to expand as we identify further opportunities, secure new partners or acquire new businesses in the future.
UK Underwriting Limited is authorised by the FSA no. 310101.
Direct Group
Direct Group has grown rapidly since its launch in 1990 and was subject to a management buyout in August 2007; the management team acquired the business with the backing of Lloyds Development Capital and Barclays Bank. This deal has been the launch pad for rapid growth for Direct Group as it on track to treble over the next three years through acquisition and organic growth. Direct Group has worked with Longhawk Group (under the UKU brand) for the last 2 years on the area of property claims.
As a Managing General Agent (MGA), Direct Group aims to be the leading insurance services provider to the UK financial services marketplace. This vision is based around a philosophy of “treating customers and partners as we would expect to be treated ourselves”. The high quality of service offered by Direct Group is supported by a scalable and robust business platform which not only provides Clients’ and Insurers’ with unparalleled quality of management information but also provides the basis for expansion into new products and new market sectors.
Direct Group currently operates on a business-to-business basis by offering products to financial institutions, corporates and affinities. The services offered by Direct Group include product design, account development and training, policy administration, premium collection, claim handling and sales, insurer and captive reporting.
Direct Group Limited is authorised by the FSA no. 307332.
For more information please contact Finance Director, Michael Warren on 07768 033380 michael.warren@ukul.com
