Protection and health provider The Exeter has appointed Claire Hird (pictured) as its new customer service director.
Hird joined at the start of the new year and will oversee the underwriting, claims, and customer service functions.
Before joining The Exeter, Hird was the operations director at Legal & General, where she was responsible for all customer-facing activity across the company’s insurance business.
She initially joined Legal & General in 2010 as head of sales and service.
Hird will be joined at The Exeter by two further appointments; Sharon Smith joins as head of business readiness, with Tim Weaver joining as head of operational planning & workflow. These roles will be key in supporting The Exeter over the coming months as the mutual continues to invest in improvements to its provision of service to both members and intermediaries.
Isobel Langton, chief executive of The Exeter, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Claire to The Exeter.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about customer service and the people who deliver it.
“Claire shares that passion and brings a wealth of experience to the role; I am excited about working together and seeing what we can achieve in the future.”
Hird added: “I am pleased to have joined The Exeter at such an exciting time. Whether it’s online, via email, letter or telephone, every interaction we have with a member or adviser is an opportunity to exceed their expectations.
“I am looking forward to getting to know our teams and collaborating to deliver positive customer experiences that set us apart from our competitors.”
