BDML targets new areas to boost its book
BDML has poached four key members of Aon's affinity division to form a new team focusing on growing affinity business outside its core motor and household activities.
Stuart Read and Susi Cook have already moved to BDML, and will be joined by Lee Glyn from Royal & SunAlliance as well as two further unnamed Aon staff, who are currently serving their notice periods.
Market sources said the exodus raises questions over Aon's commitment to its affinity business, following Peter Friend's retirement as chief executive of Aon's personal and group programmes division in 2004.
Aon also closed its Caterham office earlier this year. Sources said some staff from the affinity division were unhappy about relocating to Redhill.
BDML's chairman and chief executive Sandy Dunn said the new team will target local authorities and housing associations to provide home contents insurance for their residents.
The broker has also landed a contract to provide insurance cover for the Home Contents Initiative, a government-run scheme that offers tax breaks to employers as an incentive to make computers available to their staff.
Dunn said: "We are looking forward to diversifying the business above and beyond our traditional activities, and we have selected the right team to do that.
"We are in the planning stages at the moment but this is a very exciting time."
Aon declined to comment.
