Insurance Times Advent Calendar: Ant Middle

Every day for the festive period continuing until Christmas Eve, Insurance Times speaks to a selection of industry personalities about what they’d like to find under the tree for 2024.  

What was your insurance industry highlight of 2023?

As an industry, it’s in the job description to be there when customers need us.

But what really stood out for me this year was the quick, professional and compassionate response shown by the team to help customers affected by the Luton car park fire.

This was not a great way to return from a holiday for anyone, but it was great to see the quick call to arms to find those customers affected, get them mobile again and protect their excesses and NCD.

And then there’s the fact that Ageas was voted Personal Lines Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Times Awards this year – thanks to the great team around me and the brokers that voted for us!

What is your Christmas message for your insurance colleagues?

Keep going! This year has been a testament to our resilience, adaptability and unwavering commitment to our customers.

We’ve seen some amazing shifts, from embracing new regulation to weaving in some high-tech magic.

As we wrap up the year – pun intended – let’s take a moment to appreciate the crazy ride we’ve been on and recharge our batteries for the adventures that wait in the New Year.

What do you hope to find under the industry’s Christmas tree for 2024?

Lego, video games and books are a staple under my family Christmas tree.

But I would settle for increased take up of resilient repairs through the Build Back Better scheme in place of Lego, enhanced AI and tech to further streamline and simplify the customer journey in place of video games – and a good book with stories about all of the amazing things we do to help customers.

Oh, and reduced inflation of course.