ABI appoints Director of Scottish Affairs

by Gill Montia

Story link: ABI appoints Director of Scottish Affairs

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced that Maggie Craig has been appointed its first Director of Scottish Affairs.

Ms Craig, who lives near Cumbernauld, is currently the association’s director of life and savings.

In her new job she plans to develop wider and deeper relationships with the Scottish Government, Scottish Financial Enterprise and the media, to promote Scotland’s financial services sector and the interests of Scottish customers.

According to the ABI, the creation of the new post recognises the increasing importance of the insurance industry in Scottish daily life, on issues such as flood risk management and personal injury reform.

The association’s director general, Stephen Haddrill, comments that the appointment “reflects the reputation of Scotland as a leader and innovator within the global financial services industry”.

The ABI has also been in the news this week in connection with a Treasury Select Committee hearing on the banking crisis.

MPs have been trying to establish whether institutional shareholders could have done more to positively influence the boards of failed banks.

When questioned, ABI chief executive, Peter Montagnon, said the organisation’s members had raised questions with the banks but had not been as effective they might have been in averting a crisis.