In his opening remarks to the guests Ciaran Phelan, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, emphasised the need for excellent service from Insurers and warmly welcomed the guests to the celebration of the 27th Anniversary of the Awards. Ciaran outlined the running order for the presentations and explained some changes to the Awards criteria this year. Following a review by IBA, the Top General Insurance Awards would be awarded to reflect the importance of the size of the large Commercial Corporate sector. Consequently, the two major general insurance Awards this year will be for: The Best Overall Personal Lines and SME Commercial Lines Service and the second Award would be for the Best Overall Large Corporate Commercial Lines Service. (Large Corporates being Brokers with more than 30 staff). In addition, it was felt that an Award for Best Broker Consultant Service should be introduced into the life Awards on a similar basis to the General Insurance sector. Having explained these changes, Ciaran then called on Michael Fitzgerald of Premium Credit to say a few words on behalf of the sponsors, Premium Credit.

Michael welcomed all present and re-confirmed on behalf of Ger Shannon, CEO and Premium Credit’s strong support for sponsoring Awards that encouraged service excellence which was in keeping with Premium Credit’s own commitment to service excellence. He concluded his speech by wishing all those present good fortune with the results.

Ciaran then called on the President of the Association, Aidan McLoughlin to address those present. In his address to the guests Aidan McLoughlin, President, emphasised the need for improved service and the importance of companies and Brokers working together in the best interest of their mutual clients. The President extended an invitation on behalf of the Association to work with Insurers towards finding solutions to mutual service problems in the industry. He finished by wishing everyone the best of luck in the Awards presentation to follow.

The winning of the Awards continues to be a major business and service objective for insurers operating in the Irish market. This is the 27th Anniversary year of the Insurance Service Awards Survey and the results reflect the standard of service received by IBA Members from insurers for the 2016 calendar year. With in excess of 360+ on-line Life, General and Specialist sector surveys completed by IBA members the response this year has been excellent. We take this opportunity to thank, once again, all the Association’s members who took the time to express their views on service standards in the market.

Results pertaining to each region of the Association will be reported on in due course at the next series of IBA Regional meetings. The overall National results are now on the IBA website at www.IBA.ie

With IBA brokers representing in excess of 70% of total premium income in the insurance market they are well placed to comment on the level of service received from insurers. The Association’s Members represent the interests of their clients – the end consumer. In commenting on the level of service delivered by companies to the market, Brokers are encouraging both the life and general insurance sectors to respond effectively to the needs of clients in terms of better service and value for money products.

Following the lunch Ciaran Phelan commenced the announcement of the winners with the assistance of the Association’s Deputy Presidents, Cathal Lowe and Linda Gallagher.

The Overall Winners of the Irish Brokers Association’s Insurance Service Awards for 2016 are as follows:

l AXA Insurance for the Best Overall Personal Lines

and SME Commercial Lines Service

l Aviva Insurance for the Best Overall Large Corporate Commercial Lines Service

l Irish Life for the Best Life Company Sector

l DAS for the Best Specialist General Insurer Sector

l Patrona Underwriting for the Best Product Producer Sector

l Davy Select for the Best Life Specialist Sector

AXA Insurance produced an excellent performance in achieving the top service Award for Personal Lines and SME Commercial Lines. Our congratulations go to Phil Bradley CEO and his team on an excellent achievement in winning this prestigious Award.

The second major Award in the General Sector is for Best Large Corporate Commercial Lines Service and this Award went to Aviva Insurance and our congratulations go to John Quinlan, CEO and his team at Aviva for winning this major Award this year. No doubt, Zurich Insurance, AIG, Allianz, Liberty Insurance, RSA and Travelers will aim to produce stronger performances in 2017 to challenge AXA and Aviva for these top Awards.

The winner of the CEO & Top Supporting Management team in 2016 for the Large General Insurer Sector was AXA Insurance and we extend our congratulations again to Phil Bradley CEO and his team for winning this highly sought after Award again this year.

The winner of the Most Improved Ranking Award in this sector went to Aviva Insurance. Congratulations again to John Quinlan CEO and the team at Aviva. The CPD Award for delivering the Best Continuous Professional Development Programme in 2016 was won by Zurich Insurance. We congratulate Anthony Brennan Group CEO and his team for delivering an excellent Broker CPD Training Programme to IBA members in 2016. The Best Personal Lines Claims Support and the Best BDM Awards in 2016 went to AXA Insurance. The Best Sales and Marketing Support for Personal and Commercial Lines in 2016 also went to AXA Insurance. Our congratulations to Phil Bradley, CEO and his team on winning the above Awards.

The Specialist Insurer Sector Overall Winner was, for the fifth year in a row, DAS and our congratulations go to Adrienne O’Sullivan CEO and her team on their success in winning this Award once again.

The winner in the Specialist Sector for the CEO & Top Supporting Management team was DAS and we again offer our congratulations to Adrienne O’Sullivan CEO and her team on their repeated success here in 2016.

The Most Improved Ranking Award for the Specialist Insurer Sector was won by CHUBB Insurance. In addition, the Best Claims Service in the Specialist sector for 2016 was also won by CHUBB and our congratulations go to Jim Duncan, General Manager and his team on winning these two Awards this year.