6 BROKERS’ MONTHLY
Fusion. required to repay clients.
He left “Particularly unpleasant was the task of dealing
Crawford with anonymous letters sent to our clients making
following some spurious allegations about our conduct. There was
heart surgery. “Crawford were excellent and there was also an unsuccessful employment tribunal claim
a very amicable conclusion,” he says. “I formed my brought by Wellicome for unfair dismissal, despite his
own company in 2005 offering a broad spectrum of admission of two of the offences.”
expertise and services.” Beverley Shreeve concludes, “The motor
And it’s good to add that Mr Shaw now has a insurance market is challenging enough without
number of associates to help with demand and to deal having to contend with problems of this magnitude,
with any conflict situations - not to mention giving but justice has been done and our business will
him a breather now and again! continue to flourish, just as it has done since we
uncovered the fraud.”
Service fraud trauma now over
t’s been a tough year or two for the management ManningUK hits 25
I
and staff at Service Underwriting Management t was back in 1984 that Ann Manning set up her
(SUM). This was nothing to do with underwriting
results or processing the business, but something
I
broking business in Henley on Thames. “That
year was not the best climate in which to start a
much more damaging and traumatic – concerted business, especially if you are a woman in a male
collusion to defraud by two senior and highly trusted dominated profession,” she explains. “The UK was in
employees. (See page 27 in this issue). the depths of a recession, interest rates were high and
Managing director Beverley Shreeve was visibly business failures at record levels. It was tough in
relieved when offering her thanks to all those who those early times, but 25 years ago seems a long way
have supported the Tunbridge Wells-based insurer away now. Yet this was the
through this difficult time - clients, business partners, right decision, as the
staff, its own fraud investigators and lawyers, and business is still growing
Sussex Police during a lengthy period of profitably as it celebrates its
investigation. 25th anniversary.”
“Our business partner AIG offered its own Disenchanted with the
investigative resources and assistance right from the service provided to
moment this fraud was discovered back in October businesses by the large
2006, while our fraud investigators and lawyers international insurance
provided significant input and support during the broker for whom she
enquiries,” explains Ms Shreeve. “The investigation worked, and concerned
by Sussex Police was very professional from the about the lack of prospects
beginning, right through to conviction in March
Ann Manning
for women in the
2009. During this period of much worry and organisation, the brokerage initially targeted
distraction, our staff pulled together to ensure that it corporate clients. She claims to be one of the first
was ‘business as usual’, while our shareholders and women to own and manage a commercial broker,
external directors were very supportive throughout adding that even now over 99% of the 3,500 brokers
the process. And not least… our insurer clients. Their in the UK are male owned and managed.
support was very important.” Current turnover approaches £6m and there are
The impact of this fraud was considerable. 14 staff. The portfolio now includes all types of
Finance director Mike Lewis recalls, “The initial insurance, but specialises in manufacturing, care
emotions were shock, disappointment and anger, to homes, charities, construction and biotech companies
name but a few. The serious breach of trust was very along with cover for prestige cars and higher value
challenging to accept particularly from two senior properties including, I’m told, the polo fraternity.
and long serving individuals. Their fraudulent activity This is Henley, after all.
could have brought the company down with the loss Ann Manning: “We are all very proud to reach
of 30 jobs within, and further job losses externally. this milestone and look forward to many years ahead
“The initial period following discovery was as an insurance broker looking after businesses in the
particularly difficult. The need was to reassure clients South of England. Our continued success proves that
who had placed significant trust in SUM, plus the there is still a role for independent insurance brokers
resources required to investigate the fraud, and those that provide a personal and excellent service.”
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