Bupa is creating a single-contact UK commercial function across Bupa Global (IPMI) and UK insurance led by UK commercial director Richard Norris.
The move brings together the firm’s UK Insurance and UK-based Bupa Global (IPMI) commercial teams.
Led by Norris, Bupa said this unified function would enable intermediaries to seamlessly interact with Bupa through a single relationship, providing a clearer route to market and easier access to its complete portfolio of healthcare solutions.
It added this one relationship will create easier intermediary engagement with Bupa to deliver tailored healthcare solutions for clients.
Health & Protection asked Bupa to clarify what this move means for advisers in terms of how they contact the insurer and also whether there will be changes to personnel.
Bupa told Health & Protection there will not be any frontline job losses as a result of the unification of the teams.
It added that while a single Bupa Global general manager role previously oversaw commercial activity across the UK and Africa, as both regions have grown rapidly, the role has been split to better support future growth, with Richard Norris leading in the UK, and Uditha Jayarante
Bupa further clarified that as many team roles are field-based or hybrid, there are no plans for teams to relocate to a single location.
Norris said: “We have listened to our intermediary partners calling for a single point of access to Bupa. By bringing our UK insurance and UK-based Bupa Global commercial teams together, we can combine our expertise to better support intermediaries and customers.
“This integration reinforces our commitment to the UK and support for intermediaries to deliver connected healthcare solutions to meet the evolving needs of their clients, both in the UK and overseas.”
Anthony Cabrelli, managing director for Bupa Global, added: “Many of our customers access care across the UK and internationally, and their needs can vary depending on where they live and work. What they want is simplicity and reassurance – through a single relationship and one team that can understand and manage their care wherever they are in the world.
“By bringing together our UK insurance and UK-based Bupa Global commercial teams, we’re making it easier for intermediaries to access the best Bupa has to offer, drawing on UK capability alongside international cover through Bupa Global to seamlessly support customers with international healthcare needs.”