Ex-Aviva boss joins Manchester broker.

Manchester based commercial broker Bollington has begun its push to become a niche and affinity business heavyweight by appointing Aviva boss Chris Patterson as managing director of its wholesale operations.

Patterson will head up Bollington Underwriting, which trades as FM Green Wholesale, and will be responsible for all areas of the business with particular emphasis on growth, new scheme development, product innovation and affinity relationships.

Prior to joining Bollington, Patterson was senior new business development manager of Aviva Financial Services. Patterson will also oversee the development of the recently acquired online wholesale facility Compucar, which this year expanded the brokers ability to distribute wholesale products.

One of Patterson’s main responsibilities will be to expand Compucar's product suite to a number of new niche areas. It currently offers taxi, self drive hire, motor trade and courier products. Paul Moors, chairman of Bollingthon, said: “The appointment of Chris Patterson is a real coup for our wholesale company. Bringing 19 years’ commercial insurance experience in a range of roles, Chris is more than qualified to help focus and drive an area of the business which is central to our ambitions. He joins at an exciting stage in Bollington’s development.”