Marketing chief leaves in Norwich Union rejig

Norwich Union General Insurance’s new managing director, Mark Hodges, is to take responsibility for marketing, following the loss of Bridget McIntyre to rival Royal & SunAlliance (RSA).

The move is part of a managerial shake-up at Norwich Union, the UK brand of Aviva and one of the UK’s largest insurers, instigated after the Financial Services Authority gave the go-ahead for its &£1.1bn takeover of the RAC.

McIntyre, who was director of Aviva’s sales, marketing and underwriting divisions, has been appointed UK chief executive of RSA to replace Duncan Boyle, who is retiring. She had planned to review Norwich Union’s &£60m merged media business if the RAC takeover succeeded (MW March 17).

Brand Connection handles the &£47m media planning and buying account for Norwich Union. The RAC’s &£11.7m media business is through Vizeum. An Aviva spokesperson says that no review has started.

Hodges will also take responsibility for Norwich Union’s intermediary business in the newly created managing director role from Ken Wallace, who will oversee elements of the RAC integration until his retirement in September.

Simon Mitchell, who had held the role of customer services director for Norwich Union Insurance, has ousted RAC chief executive Andy Harrison, who will stay on for a further six months in an advisory role. Further changes are expected at the RAC. An RAC spokeswoman says: “At the moment we are not fully aware of Aviva’s long-term plans.”