Fee and commission income (2003): £369m.
Pre-tax profit (2003): £3.4m
Address: Conquest House
Collington Avenue
Bexhill-on-Sea
East Sussex TN39 3LW
Tel: 01424 735735
Fax: 01424 735730
Email: customerservice@hastingsdirect.com
Website: www.hastingsdirect.com
Year established: 1996
History: Since the acquisition of Peoples Choice Europe Ltd, at the end of July 2003, Hastings Insurance Services contains two operating divisions: Hastings Direct and Peoples Choice.
The principal activity of the Hastings Insurance Services Group is the underwriting and broking of personal lines general insurance, employing staff operating out of three direct distribution call centres in Bexhill-on-Sea, Leicester and Manchester. In seven years Hastings Insurance Services has grown to the present level of almost 750,000 policyholders.
Major shareholders: Logan Consultants Ltd
Main lines of business: Underwriting and broking private car, motorcycle and household insurance
Number of UK branches: 3
Number of UK employees (average for 2003): 928
Chief officer: David Gundlach, chairman and managing director
Biography: David Gundlach was appointed to his present position of chairman and managing director of Hastings Insurance Services Limited in late 2002.
Since beginning his career with IBM, Gundlach now has over 15 years' experience in the motor insurance industry, along with in-depth knowledge about information systems.
Before heading the team responsible for the Hastings Insurance Services start-up, Gundlach held the position of IT director at Admiral Insurance.
He played a central role in the acquisition of Hastings Insurance Services from Aioi in 2002.
