Swindon, 17 July, 2001. - Zurich Financial Services has today announced the appointment of Rodney Cook, as the first Customer Solutions Director for its UK Life business.
He joins on July 30th and will report directly to Ray Greenshields, Chief Executive of Zurich's UK, Ireland and International Life businesses. Rodney will be responsible for building up a new Customer Solutions team which will work alongside the Group's two main Life distribution channels in the UK, the Allied Dunbar Franchise Network and the Zurich IFA Group. The team will provide a strategic-marketing capability for the Life business, concentrating on creating compelling customer propositions.
Rodney, a qualified actuary, joins from AMP where he spent 22 years working in Australia, New Zealand and, most recently the UK. He ran AMP's Australian corporate pensions business before becoming Chief Executive of AMP in New Zealand, managing a multi-channel distribution operation. He also oversaw a significant review of AMP's direct sales force and the demutualisation and listing of AMP in New Zealand.
In 1999 Rodney came to London to develop the UK business strategy. Following the acquisition and demutualisation of NPI he was appointed Managing Director of Pearl Assurance. From late 2000 he also took on responsibility for Customer Marketing for the wider AMP UK Financial Services Group, a role that included business strategy, brand marketing, market analysis, solutions development and e-business development.
Ray Greenshields, commented: "Our new Customer Solutions Division is central to our strategic ambitions in the UK. We need to better understand our customers and provide them with the compelling and innovative solutions they need - that is what Customer Solutions is all about.
"I have known Rodney for many years. He is the best person for this important position. During his career, he has developed and demonstrated a deep understanding of consumer and distributor segmentation. He also has very strong views on customer value maximisation and the design, development and distribution of financial solutions in today's marketplace. I am delighted to welcome him to Zurich."
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Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) is part of the Zurich Financial Services Group and comprises the Group's operations in the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
The Zurich Financial Services Group is a global leader in the financial services industry, providing its customers with solutions in the area of financial protection and asset accumulation. The Group concentrates its activities in five business segments: non-life and life insurance, reinsurance, Farmers Management Services, and asset management. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Group's worldwide presence builds on strong positions in its three key markets - the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It has offices in more than 60 countries reaching 35 million customers and employing about 70,000 people.
