22 July 2002 - Zurich Financial Services has appointed Chris Keogh to a new role within the Zurich Advice Network as Financial Planning Director. Chris, former Distribution Director for Zurich IFA Group (ZIFA), will report to Andy Ferns, Sales Director of Zurich Advice (ZAN) network.
Andy Ferns is confident that this appointment will prove pivotal to the future growth of ZAN at a time when the whole industry is undergoing a massive overhaul. He comments:
"Chris has delivered outstanding business results over many years and has been a key figure in the success of Zurich IFA Group. He brings to his new role a great understanding of the financial services industry, which will strengthen our ZAN client proposition at top end of the market. He leaves in place a strong sales management team who will continue to deliver excellent business performance. Chris will now develop a financial planning proposition within the Zurich Advice Network.
"The Zurich Advice Network was the first financial services franchise in the UK and it has been a unique model that some competitors have chosen to follow. The franchise strategy has continued to evolve to ensure we remain at the forefront of distribution, meeting the changing needs of our advisers and their customers. Having provided focus on our mortgage franchisees earlier this year, it is now time to provide a similar approach for those franchisees who provide financial planning. The role of Financial Planning Director is part of this continuing evolution and we will be making further announcements in the Autumn to clarify our distribution proposition."
Keith Baldwin, CEO Distribution said:
"The changes taking place in our market-place offer Zurich's life business enormous opportunities. Zurich offers two exceptional alternative face to face distribution propositions, aimed at providing the best service to all our distributors and clients. We have been growing collaboration across all areas of our distribution business, which has delivered great benefits. This appointment, plus other key initiatives to be announced over the next few months, will leave us well positioned to take advantages of the changes we expect to see in financial services distribution."
Jim Reeve, Managing Director of Zurich IFA Group commented:
"I am absolutely delighted at Chris' appointment. His legacy to our business is that he has created a sales management team which in my view is the best in the market, well able to continue the unprecedented success of the last few years."
