Profiles
17. RIAS
RIAS HOUSE
DEANSLEIGH ROAD
BOURNEMOUTH
DORSET BH7 7DU
TEL: 0800 552 100
FAX: 01202 254 272
EMAIL: CUSTOMER SERVICES@RIAS.CO.UK
WEBSITE: WWW.RIAS.CO.UK + WWW.RIAS.CO.UK
FEE AND COMMISSION INCOME (2004): £49.17m
PRE-TAX PROFIT: £6.62m
CHIEF OFFICER: ANDREW MARCHINGTON, MANAGING DIRECTOR
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1994 (AS RETIREMENT INSURANCE ADVISORY SERVICES)
HISTORY
The firm began trading in 1977 as part of Aspen Insurance Brokers and in 1992 launched the Retirement Insurance Advisory Services brand from its offices in Poole, Dorset. The company was acquired by Fortis (UK) in 1997. The Retirement Insurance Advisory Service brand was retained and the company changed its name to Insurance Advisory Services.
In April 2004 the company undertook a rebranding exercise to increase customer awareness and recognition within its local community and is now known as RIAS.
RIAS is a successful specialist general insurance intermediary that focuses on the over-50s age profile. It has experienced rapid growth over the last 18 months and currently employs over 1,000 staff. The company has set ambitious growth targets for the future and is looking to build on its current success.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
RIAS is a 100% subsidiary of Fortis (UK). The ultimate holding company is Fortis Utrecht NV, which is jointly owned by Fortis NV and Fortis SA/NV
MAIN LINES OF BUSINESS
Home, motor, travel, caravan, legal expenses, personal accident, home emergency, motor breakdown and garden cover
CHIEF OFFICER BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Marchington spent his early career in consumer goods marketing.
This included five years at Black & Decker, where he was UK group marketing manager and launched a number of original products.
He then moved into financial services, initially with HFC Bank as its marketing director, going on to become the managing director of its insurance subsidiaries.
Marchington joined Lex/RAC in 1994 and worked on a number of business development opportunities, including three years expanding the leasing operation. After a short period at Prudential he joined RIAS in January 2003 as managing director.
