Ian Guest

Director at Ether Introductions

• Providing NED services to a nationwide vehicle repairer
• Working as a business consultant with a commercial and marine cargo salvage provider

Previous Experience

Sompo International                                                                                  May ’24 to June ‘25

Claims Transformation Program Consultant

• Conducting comprehensive performance and cost-benefit reviews of all claims supplier vendors to identify opportunities for service enhancement and cost reduction.
• Developing and implementing a new legal panel assessment framework to audit performance and optimise matter allocation, resulting in projected annual savings of circa £750k.

Ether Introductions                                                                                   April ‘23 – April ‘24 

Director – Working in a Procurement Capacity

• Provided expert consultancy on TPA and claims supplier performance, conducting detailed reviews and delivering actionable recommendations to insurers on improving service delivery, controls, and operational efficiency.
• Designed a comprehensive claims outsourcing model for a major insurer's motor services, incorporating analysis for future acquisitions.

NatWest Group                                                                                           May’22 – March‘23

Supply Chain Delivery Manager

Supported the business on technology renewals covering a multitude of suppliers serving both the Swiss and UK banking operations. Undertook new and existing supplier screening to ensure compliance with UK banking regulations and NatWest own sanctions requirements.

Ether Introductions

Director – Working in a project capacity                                                      July ’20– April ‘22

Designed and project managed a joint venture with Hastings Direct to launch into a new market segment with a digital claims proposition. Responsible for sourcing and implementing a new fintech claims platform.

Canopius                                                                                                        Feb’19 – July ‘20

Procurement Consultant (Contract)

Recruited on an initial 3 month term – contract extended to 18 months.

• Created procurement and supply chain strategy for claims and some indirect spend to be implemented by the syndicate – savings on target for $5m (USD)
• Introduced billing protocols and artificial intelligence to legal spend which is on target to reduce legal fees by £2m p.a.
• Ran the Cyber Insurance legal services and incident management RFP to conclusion
• Achieved £2m savings through best practice commercial management application.

Direct Line Group                                                                                           Nov ‘17 – Oct ‘18

Senior Sourcing Manager, Procurement (Contract)

Recruited as maternity cover on a 6 month term – contracted extended to 12 months.

• Set and implemented the strategy for building claims supply chain via networks, direct contractors and independent surveyors- achieved savings of £1.5m p.a.
• Responsible for all property based suppliers compliance checks.

LV=                                                                                                               Oct ‘16 – June ‘17

Interim Sourcing and Supply Chain Manager, Procurement

Recruited to provide support property and motor claims as well as corporate partners and aggregators. Initially on a 3 month term – contract extended to 8 months.

MA Assist                                                                                                  March ‘16 – Sep ‘16

Head of Research and Innovation                                                            

• Set digital strategy for the group, introduced new product lines and created the blue print for surveying services.

Chief Operating Officer (Cipher UK Ltd, an MA Group company)              Feb ‘15 – March ‘16

• Headhunted to lead a specialist subsidiary company. Developed new business lines, products and sales channels as well as optimizing existing clients for the wider MA Group. 
• Launched into the housebuilder market aimed at customer care and technical support - awarded a full contract by a regional housebuilder and a pilot by a major national.
• Undertook a strategic re-focus on delivering world class customer service which resulted in NPS scores for 2015 of 76 on direct building repairs.

Allianz Insurance Plc                                                                                   June ‘09 – Feb ‘15

Claims Supply Manager                                                                                   2012 - 2015

Property Claims Supply Manager                                                                    2009 - 2012

• Controlled annual claims spend of circa £400 million via various controlled competitive models which delivered best of breed supplier and claims management. Undertook review of indirect spend for the board who implemented recommended new structure. 
• Represented claims on the risk committee to ensure third party compliance
• Responsible for ensuring that all suppliers met global standards including financial and risk and incorporated screening based on global corruption and risk indicators.

Homeserve Contents Services (HCS) Ltd.                                                       2007 - 2009

Supply Chain Manager            

Rubicon Insurance Solutions Ltd                                                                    2002 – 2006

Claims Supplier Manager                                                                                

Miller Fisher Group                                                                                         2000 - 2002

Section Head, Repairline

Cunningham Lindsey (Formerly Ellis and Buckle)                                          1996 - 2000

Team Leader

B.A (Hons), Lancaster University. History (minor in neuropsychology) 2.1