Haasz defection fuels Lloyd's unrest talk

Lloyd's has lost another senior figure to Prudential after Steven Haasz announced he will leave the corporation in July to join the life insurer.

The director of market infrastructure and programme management follows in the footstep of former Lloyd's chief executive Nick Prettejohn, who left to become chief executive of Prudential UK and Europe at the end of 2005.

Haasz, who joins Prudential as managing director of UK wholesale, becomes the second high-profile figure to leave Lloyd's in as many months, following the departure of director of worldwide markets, Julian James.

James left the corporation last month after nine years to join global insurance broker, Lockton International.

Haasz's departure has led to speculation of unrest among senior managers at Lloyd's.

One senior market source, said: "Richard Ward has ruffled a lot of feathers within the corporation over some of the strategic decisions he has made about how the corporation's management structure will look going forward."

But a spokesman for Lloyd's said: "The two directors [James and Haasz] have left of their own accord. They had the opportunity to work elsewhere and decided to move on."

He added: "Richard Ward has looked at our structure at Lloyd's, like any chief executive would, and at how we can best deliver on the Lloyd's three-year plan. It is an ongoing process and change will be constant."

The comments come amid reports that Rolf Tolle, director of franchise performance, is also set to leave Lloyd's – which Lloyd's has categorically denied.

Haasz will leave Lloyd's on 1 July. Lloyd's said an annnouncement will be made on his replacement in due course.

Haasz, who worked on shaping and improving Lloyd's business processes, will be responsible for developing and delivering Prudential's UK strategy in the wholesale markets, including the longevity, investment, bulk and back book sectors.

Prudential insisted that Haasz's appointment would not signify a renewed effort to expand its general insurance business.

Prettejohn said: "We have a unique set of assets in the wholesale market including significant longevity and investment expertise, unparalleled administrative capabilities and transaction experience."