Eagle Star hires chief for revamp

Life and insurance giant drafts in senior Zurich Municipal executive to revamp marketing team

Eagle Star, the life and general insurance company with 1 million customers, has hired a new marketing director to restructure its marketing department.

John Bouldin was previously general manager at sister company Zurich Municipal and reports to managing director Ian Owen.

Bouldin’s first task will be to revamp the department following its merger with the Zurich Municipal private insurance brand.

Zurich Municipal sells buildings and risk insurance to public organisations, and private motor and house insurance to their employees.

A spokeswoman for Eagle Star – which has £15bn of funds under management – says the merger will not lead to any redundancies. The new department will have about 40 staff.

Bouldin replaces Peter Collins, who has retired. Collins formerly oversaw marketing at Eagle Star in his capacity as associate director.

Swiss insurance giant Zurich Financial Services acquired Eagle Star two years ago in a £33bn merger, when it bought BAT Industries’ financial services businesses.

The restructure is the second since the acquisition. After the first, Eagle Star slashed about 30 marketing jobs.

Eagle Star subsequently pulled out of the broker market. Eagle Star products are now sold directly over the telephone and through the Internet.

Bouldin will be responsible for advertising, which will involve working with Eagle Star’s agency Ogilvy & Mather.

Eagle Star has interests in 30 countries.