Equity Red Star joins Countrywide panel

by Gill Montia

Story link: Equity Red Star joins Countrywide panel

Equity Red Star, the largest personal lines syndicate at Lloyd’s, has joined the panel of Countrywide, the independent broker network with 700 members.

Countrywide already has a trading partnership with Hastings Insurance Services, which is part of the Equity Red Star group, and this latest development will increase the range of specialist / non-standard products available to the network, particularly in motor and fleet.

According to David Grant, head of sales and marketing at Equity, membership of the panel will give the company access to a significant share of the market.

He is particularly interested in the network’s new initiatives, such as Partner Broker, which is already having a positive affect on business placement.

The agreement also means that Countrywide Members will benefit from preferential rates and commission arrangements.

Countrywide’s commercial director, Mark Ryder, says that the network chooses its partners on the basis of financial strength, commitment to the broker market, electronic trading and shared future business strategy. He is confident that Equity will be adding value for members.

Countrywide’s other panel members include Allianz, AXA, Fortis, Groupama, MMA, Towergate and Zurich.