Loss adjuster Woodgate & Clark has restructured to fully integrate its Quadra acquisition into ‘business as usual,’ and to prepare for what MD Phil Scarrett describes as likely to be a volatile market in 2023.
Scarrett heads up a new four-strong C-suite that includes Quadra’s Dave Greenwood (director) and Simon Jones (client services director), as well as operations director Graeme Fitzpatrick.
He explained the new structure will create ‘added impetus to scale up Quadra’s expertise in in niche and specialist personal lines, and align it with Woodgate & Clark’s 40-year experience in commercial claims adjusting and resolution.’
Phil Scarrett said: “One of the key objectives in acquiring Quadra was to extend the Woodgate & Clark service proposition, moving into new areas of expertise in claims management and attracting new talent to support clients’ needs and ambitions.”
“The result makes for an even more competitive and responsive business and provides a broader range of specialist services under one brand while maximising the benefits of the combined, varied pool of skills and experience available; in summary, we’re creating the best of both worlds.”
“He said Woodgate & Clark is well-equipped to meet the challenges of a volatile and fast changing claims environment. Looking ahead to 2023, Phil pointed to the impact of claims supply chain bottlenecks, and the continuing Inflationary pressures on building materials and other supplies
“Underinsurance is also a growing problem for domestic and commercial customers due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Our experiences tell us that Insurers are sympathetic to this issue, and it remains incumbent on claims professionals to be alive to any potential problems throughout the claims process.”
“The continuous drive on recruitment and talent retention remains a big focus for us in 2023. We believe that training, providing opportunities to achieve professional qualifications and clear career pathways for our people is the best way to secure the talent we need to grow and succeed.”
“We will also continue to work closely with CILA to make the case for loss adjusting as a career choice, seeking to attract professionals from a broad range of disciplines, and strengthening the professional development opportunities that exist.
He noted: “These pressures make trusted and transparent partnerships with insurer clients even more important, to provide high quality service through surges and good customer outcomes across the range of different claims.
“Woodgate & Clark’s long standing reputation for focus on technical expertise, efficient processing, controlled indemnity spend and, in particular, treating each policyholder as an individual, is, we believe, a key point of difference between Woodgate & Clark and many of our competitors.”
Concluding, Scarrett said: “These are exciting times for businesses., like ours, which are ambitious and open to change, and, as part of Van Ameyde, we are keen to explore further acquisition opportunities where they meet our strategic priorities.”
“In the meantime, I am confident that the combined talents of Quadra and Woodgate & Clark will give us competitive edge during the coming year and beyond.”
