Mansions boss fired in dispute over strategy
Sue Hutchinson, National Manager of underwriting agency Mansions of Australia, has been fired by the agency’s owner Calliden in a dispute over the agency’s future direction.
The dismissal brings to a head an internal dispute over Calliden’s desire to change the wording of the Mansions product.
Ms Hutchinson told insuranceNEWS.com.au she ended up conflicted between her role as a Calliden employee and her professional relationship with Kiln, the lead underwriter at Lloyd’s of the Mansions product.
Calliden Group Marketing Director Mike Hooton declined to comment on the sacking, but says Calliden wants to reposition and relaunch the Mansions product. “Lloyd’s will retain the security,” he said.
The insurer acquired Mansions last year when it purchased Australian Unity’s general insurance business. Mr Hooton says research has shown the Mansions market niche is “increasingly competitive”.
“We feel it’s lost its way and what it stands for,” he said.
Ms Hutchinson had run the Mansions operation since 2002, and says Calliden “wants to make money from sales commission with no apparent consideration for the underwriting results” – a situation she says doesn’t take into consideration the agency’s long-standing relationship with the Lloyd’s underwriter.
“I’m not going to sell my reputation down the river,” she said.
Lloyd’s Representative in Australia Keith Stern says Lloyd’s is aware of the situation. “There have been difficulties over this for some time,” he said. “It has been brought to the attention of the underwriter at Lloyd’s.”
The dismissal brings to a head an internal dispute over Calliden’s desire to change the wording of the Mansions product.
Ms Hutchinson told insuranceNEWS.com.au she ended up conflicted between her role as a Calliden employee and her professional relationship with Kiln, the lead underwriter at Lloyd’s of the Mansions product.
Calliden Group Marketing Director Mike Hooton declined to comment on the sacking, but says Calliden wants to reposition and relaunch the Mansions product. “Lloyd’s will retain the security,” he said.
The insurer acquired Mansions last year when it purchased Australian Unity’s general insurance business. Mr Hooton says research has shown the Mansions market niche is “increasingly competitive”.
“We feel it’s lost its way and what it stands for,” he said.
Ms Hutchinson had run the Mansions operation since 2002, and says Calliden “wants to make money from sales commission with no apparent consideration for the underwriting results” – a situation she says doesn’t take into consideration the agency’s long-standing relationship with the Lloyd’s underwriter.
“I’m not going to sell my reputation down the river,” she said.
Lloyd’s Representative in Australia Keith Stern says Lloyd’s is aware of the situation. “There have been difficulties over this for some time,” he said. “It has been brought to the attention of the underwriter at Lloyd’s.”