Kitson will be missed

It will be all change at Aviva next year with the departure of George Berrie, Aviva's director of trading, and the relinquishment of Janice Deakin's corporate sales role, although she is likely to land a more significant position within sales and marketing.

Berrie's responsibilities will be divided as of the new year: Bridget Murphy will look after regional brokers while Phil Bayles will take on the nationals and larger brokers.

John Kitson is also leaving in March 2010. Kitson, Aviva's head of marketing for general insurance, has been an inspirational leader at Norwich Union since his appointment by Derek Plummer - now at MMA - in December 1995. He has vision, charisma and a sense of fun that will be missed by many brokers. He has also been at the forefront of the rebranding campaign, one that has encompassed celebrities from Bruce Willis to Paul Whitehouse, the latter taking on many roles from football fan to hairdresser for its campaign to promote local brokers. Never has Kitson, who was also NU's intermediary director in 2006, experienced so much creative license but there is also the inevitable pressure that goes alongside; it has been a colossal effort and he deserves some time off to reflect and go fishing after making some stressful but rewarding decisions. Speaking to him, the feeling comes across that he will miss the market. I suspect that the market will miss him more.

The waiting game

This year has been one of refinancing for our profession's consolidators and news that Oval has raised a £9m cash injection from RSA is shrouded in mystery. It is unclear whether the money is upfront commission, a loan or cash for preference shares because, at the time of going to press, there had not been an announcement. Whatever the rationale, it is unlikely to appease a small band of directors that sold their businesses to Oval and took a lot of shares but who are now eager to cash in. They might be waiting for some time to come.