market talk


IP marches on


“Shredded tree” dilemma A+ for Ocaso


forgivable degree of self- congratulatory back thumping taking place on page 12 in this edition of Insurance People. Despite there being a tradition in magazine publishing to milk a new format with a ‘honking tugs’ fanfare, IP believes


Thenewlook IP T


here’s a perhaps


in association with


insurance people are not swayed by that kind of embellishment. Readers decide for themselves. The larger sized mag has served the insurance press well for many


decades, but times change, and the trend towards compactness points the way


ahead, inspired by the development of today’s digital communications devices.


But advocates of the touch, feel, and yes... smell of the glossy printed copy need have no despair. IP will be there in both print and digital format!


T


The ‘paperless’ office Ocaso update E


alking about changing times (as in the


William Hughes “


previous item), when reporting on reader comment it’s tempting to use the ‘postbag’ cliché. But of course nowadays 99% of input arrives by email, phone, or even face- to-face. There aren’t many postal ‘Letters to the Editor’ anymore, but here’s an email from William Hughes - MD of Devitt Insurance Brokers.


Having now worked in a supposedly ‘paperless’ environment for a number years, our poor office cleaners are still unable to give our desks a thorough


polish due to the mountains of shredded trees which adorn our work place.


In spite of our own attempts to drive efficiencies in this area, we are hindered by the plethora of glossy industry publications that arrive through our letterbox each day - all carrying very interesting content obviously, but delivered in a way that is at odds with the way in which are trying to operate our business.


I’m some way off yet from being an environmental mentalist. However, if the industry content in which I am interested can be delivered to me through digital media, as is the case with Insurance People, I can at least start to get a good polish.


William Hughes - Managing Director, Devitt Insurance Brokers.


6 insurancepeople NOVEMBER 2011 ”


xciting times for Insurance People readers. The pattern emerging is the polarisation between the devotees of glossy print arriving by post, and the readers who prefer the more instant digital delivery. IP aims to satisfy both! Lifestyle changes wrought by the digital communications revolution are an unfolding book leading who knows where? But it’s good to learn that there’s still a place for traditional tried and tested methods. When I cornered Graham Kitteridge, general manager at Ocaso, as to his preference he advised, “I prefer the paper copy as we circulate it around the office and staff tick a box to say they have read it. We also have an extra copy which we leave in our reception for our guests to read.”


Good news to learn that the circulating trade mag whirligig is still spinning. I remember it well. When seeking out any hold- up in the chain of circulation of magazines around the office, the usual culprits were an overworked techie who didn’t have time to read, but hated passing anything on that he hadn’t seen. Or, more sinisterly, the MD himself, who tried to delay circulation to avoid staff zooming straight to the jobs pages. Come to think of it, the company MD had a point - yours truly acquired two career changes in the 1970-80s by doing exactly that!


It was back in 2001 when I first called on Graham Kitteridge to discuss Spanish homecover. No, not a trip to warmer climes, but London’s Middlesex Street, adjacent to Petticoat Lane.


Spanish insurer Ocaso started writing household in the UK in 1992 including UK holiday homes and second homes in Spain. It’s obviously paid off, with a recent A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior) for Ocaso S.A. Seguros y Reaseguros. Graham Kitteridge: “Ocaso S.A. continues to go from strength to strength reporting strong financial figures. The 2010 gross premium income totalled £706.5m with pre-tax profit of £97.8m. The UK offices substantially increased their premium income having launched their products on EDI platforms.” Doesn’t sound quite like Petticoat Lane somehow, does it?


issue 18 November 2011


insurancepeople


Sterling60th


Anniversary – Supplement inside


Insurance People inside include:


Alan Cleary Martin Hall Andy Hawkes William Hughes Peter Knowles


Brendan McManus Roger Snook Peter Staddon Des Lynam Richard Webb


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