(ALEXANDRIA, VA - Feb. 18, 2009) — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I") today announced that Neil Hitchcock of Tysers, an independent insurance broker headquartered in London, has joined the association.
“We are honored to have Neil join the Big ‘I’,” says Jeffrey A. Etzkin, Big “I” vice president of events and international memberships. “The Big ‘I’ offers a wealth of information and resources for agents and brokers all over the globe with the firm knowledge that whether an agency is in England, Japan, or North Dakota, many of the operational challenges and opportunities are similar. Our members everywhere provide outstanding customer service.”
“We at Tysers are extremely pleased to be the first international member of the IIABA from the UK,” says Neil Hitchcock, Production and Marketing Manager at Tysers. “Our intention is to assist fellow members in accessing the London, Lloyd’s and international (re)insurance markets along with providing exclusive products for the membership.”
Mr. Hitchcock has over 17 years of experience in the insurance industry and was recently appointed as Production and Marketing Manager of Tysers’ North America & International Specialty Division. He specializes in North American property and casualty, insurance and reinsurance including captives, self-insurance and other alternative risk transfer solutions. Hitchcock started his career at the Meacock syndicate at Lloyd's before moving to Bermuda in 1998 where he served as Senior Vice President of a Hannover Re subsidiary and President and CEO of Swift Intermediaries Limited, an independent insurance and reinsurance intermediary. Mr. Hitchcock, who frequently visits the US, can be contacted at neil.hitchcock@tysers.com.
“Our recent Agency Universe Study found that despite tough economic times in many areas of the financial services sector, independent agencies remain strong, stable, flexible and have much potential for growth,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “The industry continues to expand internationally. We welcome Mr. Neil Hitchcock to our association and look forward to continuing to grow overseas.”
The IIABA’s growing international membership also includes members from Australia, Austria, Dominican Republic, Japan, India, Mexico, Panama, Philippines and Vietnam.
About Tysers: Founded in 1820, Tysers is a leading independent, international Lloyd’s broker that is based at the heart of the world’s premier insurance market in London. The agency’s almost two hundred year old history started as a family-owned and operated business dealing with marine trade. Currently, Tysers employs about 200 people, handles around $600 million of annual premiums, and works with leading insurance markets worldwide to deliver risk solutions to a global client base. Tysers’ reputation for delivering a professional service backed by experience across a wide range of specialist insurance classes is unsurpassed.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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