Insurance Age - NIG announces restructuring plans

Insurance Age - NIG announces restructuring plans: "NIG announces restructuring plans
NIG has today publicised its plans to merge its commercial and personal lines divisions into a single unified team, claiming it will improve service and maximise commercial opportunities.
The new structure, which the company refers to as �One NIG�, will focus on improving the quality of service the company provides to over 3,000 brokers.
NIG has de-layered its operations in order to focus the business around its core activities � delivery for brokers, distribution, products, underwriting and pricing. The new flattened structure will result in around 20 job losses, the majority from the head office. However, NIG claims the de-layering will create a faster flow of information, a greater sharing of best practice and enable decisions to be made quicker.
Following the restructuring, NIG is planning a greater emphasis on electronic trading, to bring new products to the market faster. A particular focus will be paid to increasing electronic distribution of small commercial business and the delivery of auto-rated products.
The new structure will put more of a sales focus on NIG�s network of 21 regional offices, placing an emphasis on promoting NIG products. NIG�s managing director, Charles Crawford, emphasised the higher profile its regional broker-focused branches will now have. �We need to make sure they are meeting the brokers needs and that they are performing well.�
Mr Crawford commented: �This re-engineering will allow NIG to reach its fullest potential for both growth and service standards. It will increase the efficiency with which the business operates, thus passing on pricing benefits to brokers and policyholders.�
He added: �Ultimately our objective is to establish NIG as o"