Market moves: Top-down changes

Heads were turned this month when the Association of British Insurers abruptly announced three high-profile departures as part of a restructure. Most noteworthy for these pages was the redundancy of general insurance director Nick Starling, whose exit coincided with the departure of fellow executive team members Maggie Craig and Steve Gay. The month was also defined by several insurer veterans riding off into the sunset. Zurich old hands Gary Wainwright and Pete Wing confirmed they would be retiring after amassing a combined 78 years of experience at the provider. And Axa’s Max Carruthers revealed to Insurance Age that he would leave the provider at the end of 2013 (see box). Elsewhere, Market moves broker mainstays Towergate, Lockton and Bluefin remained active in their customary fashion.

There is only really one place to start this month and that is with the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The organisation caught the market on the hop by announcing that Nick Starling, director of general insurance, Maggie Craig, director of financial conduct regulation and Steve Gay, director of life, savings and protection had been made redundant.

As part of the restructure the ABI said it would combine general insurance with life and pensions under a new department. The merged division