Rural Insurance hires Aviva underwriter

Rural Insurance has hired Simon Dixon from Aviva to join its underwriting team. The Harrogate based agricultural insurer said that the appointment was the first of four underwriters Rural is planning to recruit this year and is part of a strategy to bring on board high quality underwriters and base them close to brokers.

Rural chief operating officer Mike Ellis said: “Our strategy is to get closer to our brokers at a time when other providers appear to be consolidating their people into head offices, or into super regional hubs. We pride ourselves on thinking differently in the agricultural market, and we believe putting local underwriting experts and basing them in local offices where they can underwrite risks on the spot, will significantly improve our performance.”

Dixon has spent over 25 years in the insurance industry, most recently as a commercial underwriter at Aviva, where he worked for six years, specialising in agricultural business.

Commenting on his appointment, Dixon said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join a fast growing business that is passionate about the agricultural sector. I have seen the benefits of ‘localism’ at first hand, and know that personal service and deep market knowledge is highly valued by brokers and their clients. I’m looking forward to assisting Mike and the team to deliver further growth for Rural.”