ABI: Thoresen and Wesleyan boost ABI customer impact scheme

ABI: Thoresen and Wesleyan boost ABI customer impact scheme

ABI: Thoresen and Wesleyan boost ABI customer impact scheme

Otto Thoresen, Chief Executive of AEGON UK, has joined the ABI’s Customer Impact Panel, and Wesleyan Assurance Society has become the latest company to join the Scheme, which now represents almost 90% of the UK life and savings industry. The Panel is the independent group with oversight of the Customer Impact Scheme, an initiative to improve outcomes for customers of the UK’s life, pensions and investment industry.

Melanie Johnson, Chair of the Customer Impact Panel, said:

“I am delighted that Otto has joined the Panel. He is an influential figure within the industry and an ABI Board member. His work in a variety of areas, not least leading the Treasury’s review of generic financial advice, demonstrates a strong personal commitment to helping consumers.

Otto Thoresen said:

“It’s important for the industry to recognise the benefits of a greater focus on customers and Customer Impact has a significant role to play.”

Stephen Haddrill, the ABI’s Director General, said:

“These developments show that the Customer Impact Scheme is gaining strength. I welcome Otto to the Panel, and Wesleyan to the Scheme. Otto’s industry experience and expertise will be invaluable to the Panel. Wesleyan, like all participating companies, will use the detailed information the Scheme provides in their work to maintain and improve customer service standards.”

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Notes for Editors

1. Enquiries to:
Alan Leaman 020 7216 7440 (Mobile: 07957 482 330)
Jonathan French 020 7216 7392 (Mobile: 07958 330 480)
Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 (Mobile: 07776 147 667)
Erfan Hussain 020 7216 7411 (Mobile: 07712 841 184)
Kelly Ostler-Coyle 020 7216 7415 (Mobile: 07968 364 302)

2. Otto Thoresen replaces Trevor Matthews as one of the senior industry figures on the Panel. Trevor resigned following his appointment as CEO of Friends Provident, having made a strong contribution to the Panel over the past two years.

3. Information about Wesleyan Assurance Society can be found on its web site, www.wesleyan.co.uk

4. The Customer Impact Panel identifies areas where the industry can improve customer service. It provides an independent voice, with membership drawn both from senior non-industry figures with consumer backgrounds and industry leaders with a strong personal commitment to customer interests and the capacity to influence industry action. Each year, the Panel publishes a report on consumer issues facing the industry and the industry’s performance under the scheme.

5. The ABI recently published the results of this year’s Customer Impact survey of almost 20,000 customers of the industry. The results, plus a full list of Scheme members, can be found at www.customerimpact.org.

6. Further details of the Panel, including its full membership and its last annual report, can also be found at www.customerimpact.org.