“So,” he said “now you’re Aviva, you’re even more big and faceless”.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Now you’re global, you’ll lose touch with your local roots.”
“Of course,” I sighed.
“Big Corporations – don’t give a !*!! about individuals” … (language Timothy….!)
I started to switch off …
“I’ve seen that ad on the telly. It’s got Americans in it … losing touch already eh”
I tried to explain …
“Local trading, local relationships – I bet you outsource them to Cancun … or somewhere exotic …”
My eyes had gone.
“You boys at Aviva … instead of spending your money on Bruce, you’d be better investing it locally – grass roots”
The lecture nearly over …
“Broking is all about local relationships and Aviva won’t invest there – they’ll have their eyes on global domination and world peace.”
The time had come…
I put this “blogette” in his face from Paul Charlton, our Head of Trading in the West & South Wales…
“So I was in one of our local offices, in Plymouth, with Michelle Jackson and her team, the occasion was to formally mark the opening of their new premises. It was a big event for us and an opportunity to re-affirm our commitment to the local market. We’ve been in the city for over 100 years, trading in the local Devon market, with the Tamar Bridge and Cornwall just down the road.
To help celebrate the opening, we invited local girl Sharron Davies – former Olympic swimming champion, TV pundit and onetime Amazon on Gladiators….. In fact, still Amazonian, and a real local celebrity who hasn’t lost her roots or her Devon burr.
Her dad was an insurance broker in Plymouth – a Broker Independence Group member of his day – and her grandfather worked for Commercial Union in the City.
Heritage and legacy just like us, so it was all kind of appropriate.
To help celebrate the opening, and to meet Sharron, we were joined by 30 local insurance brokers for a lunchtime buffet in the branch. We toasted the opening with a glass of champagne, and most returned to their work by mid afternoon – just a small advantage of a local presence.
The talk covered national issues; the economy; competition in Bristol and beyond; the Cornish Pirates; Plymouth Argyle; Exeter Chiefs always the bridesmaids; Pete Goss sailing to Australia in a wooden fishing boat; Olympic swimming and diving – is Tom really that small and confident? But overall it was Michelle’s team of local underwriters and traders meeting up and sharing chat with long-time business contacts and friends.
How did we come to ask Sharron? Well, the team thought it would be good to get someone local and well-known. Chris, who works for Michelle, said it would be good because his Mum serves Sharron’s Mum in the Post Office down the road – and she’s really nice and friendly, so’s Sharron … And she was.”
Local … global … going in the Post Office … Sharron’s Mum … Chris who works for Michelle … Michelle who works for Paul … Paul who is one of our top guys …
After reading the “blogette”, he looked surprised and changed the subject.
Enough said …!
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