A workie's view of insurance

Insurance Age has had the pleasure of Ciaran Bradley joining us this week on work experience and he gives us his take on the heady world of insurance.

Publicly writing about your experiences with any new company is always fraught with danger. But there is little more perilous than documenting an office- as a workie, no less - that combines the twin beasts of journalism and insurance. It's like breeding a lion with a machinegun. 

So, here it is: my blow-by-blow account of my short time with Insurance Age. Prepare the Pulitzer.

The week has been dominated by the news that Mark Hodges will be leaving Aviva for Towergate this coming October. It became clear almost immediately that not only had the latter achieved something of a coup with his appointment, but that the impact on the former's long-term plans was significant.

Aviva's replacement for Hodges - Trevor Matthews, currently of Friends Life - has been greeted by brokers as a very capable businessman, but someone whose expertise may indicate a move away from general insurance and more a greater focus on  the life market for Aviva.

There are those who think the appointment of Matthews is indicative of a move towards further divesting of general insurance business from Aviva, to bring the company in line with a more continental business-style.

The coming months promise to be an interesting time for City insurance - appointments in particular - as rivals assess the implications of the managerial merry-go-round.

On a more personal note, a lesser man might have been shocked by the amount of wine consumed during broker meetings. Alas, a family background in insurance has rendered me to immune to all but the most virulent of alcoholism.

Honestly, though, I would like to thank the team for making my time here not only enjoyable, but professionally valuable. I can assure readers that your news is in safe hands.