Tim Ablett – An obituary

As a respected industry practitioner Tim was instrumental in two significant management buyouts, firstly leading the breakaway from RSA in 2003 of the healthcare and assistance business he had previously run (rebranded First Assist); and more recently in 2012 the MBO of Europ Assistance UK & Ireland, now rebranded Aria Assistance.

Someone who worked with Tim at RSA following the merger of Royal Insurance and Sun Alliance and again when he led the MBO of First Assist as group chief executive was Ecclesiastical managing director Steve Woods: "Tim enjoyed all aspects of life and was always a ‘glass half-full' person. He was a great champion of the customer and had a strong vision for how the business should operate.

"His positive attitude, natural good humour and passion to do things properly rubbed off on me and all others who worked with him. I really enjoyed the time we worked together, and I'm sure that this was true of many others too."

Someone who was there at the start of the First Assist journey was Wendy Harrison, managing director of HSL. She adds: "Working for Tim was never dull. Through his roles at Groupama, First Assist and Aria Assistance he gave us some fantastic opportunities, with perhaps the most memorable being the launch of First Assist on the walkways of Tower Bridge. We know he took great delight in the fact that the River Thames had to be shut for the fireworks at the end of the evening!

"His energy and enthusiasm for each new challenge swept us along with him and even when we weren't working for him directly he continued to provide wise words and advice whenever they were needed. We are sure his influence will resonate for many years to come."

Between his stints leading the RSA healthcare business from 1997 to 1999, and then leading the First Assist MBO, Tim took on the challenge of running Groupama's UK business, which had been underperforming in its French parent's eyes.

During his time at Groupama, Tim unsurprisingly looked to tap into the market he knew well and grow the insurer's healthcare business, snapping up the Iron Trades book in 2000. But he will probably be most remembered for the fact he helmed the insurer during a difficult period when its parent first attempted to sell the business, with the "for sale" sign on the lawn between October 2001 and May 2003, almost half of Tim's rein.

It was during this period that the business started to lay the groundwork for its future profitable growth. Success that ultimately made Groupama happy to have committed the u-turn, and which was only halted - ironically - by the parent's own financial failings some nine years later.

Someone who worked with Tim during this time, joining in 1999 and leaving in also 2003, was LAH Consulting's Lloyd Hanks: "It was my privilege to have worked for Tim at Groupama, he was an inspirational leader, analytical in thought and a great guy. He was also a dear friend too. I worked with him on a number of insurance projects in my consultancy role. He was fun to be with, gifted in ideas and possessed a wicked sense of humour. He was my colleague, friend and mentor, always prepared to give his time, experience and advice to me and others who knew him."

Jamie Marchant, another former colleague at Groupama, added: "I worked closely with Tim during the early years of Groupama in the UK. He was a very supportive and charismatic leader with a strong entrepreneurial streak; something that was also evident in his subsequent career at First Assist and most recently at Aria.

"He was immensely proud of the insurance business and of what it delivered for customers and a strong and vocal advocate of the profession, whenever and wherever the opportunity arose. A very warm, charming and engaging man, Tim was a larger than life character who was a joy to work with. He will be greatly missed."

In recent years Tim had become better known for his industry roles including the Worshipful Company of Insurers were he was past master at the time of his death; and the British Insurance Awards, where he was lead judge this year.

Rick Hudson, master of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, says: "Tim joined the WCI in 2000 and became a liveryman later in the same year. Tim took to livery like a proverbial duck to water and became involved in the events side via the Livery Committee which he went on to Chair.

"Tim joined our Court in 2005 and was electedjJunior warden in October 2009 and went on to be senior warden and then master in 2012/13. He very much enjoyed being master, and the company equally enjoyed his tenure. Tim oversaw his year in that very self assured air of his and it was a pleasure to see Tim and Ann both assume their roles with ease, visible pride and ultimately satisfaction at a job well done.

"There are no upsides to losing a friend and colleague, especially one so relatively young, but I am glad he got to go through our 'chair' here as it was something he greatly valued. The company mourns a friend and the court will miss his wise counsel."

Tim also shared his expertise through a host of chair and non-executive roles covering firms both large and small; charity, service provider, broker and insurer. These included Age UK Enterprises, EIC Holdings, Unity Insurance Brokers, Inter Hanover, Garwyn, Intune Group and Premier Occupational Healthcare.

Gordon Morris, managing director of Age UK Enterprises - of which Tim was chairman - comments: "As a leading industry figure he brought a wealth of insight that has not only benefited us as a business, but as a social enterprise that supports people in later life. His passion for improving the lives of older people was contagious, as was his warmth.

"Tim's expertise, insight, drive, care and affable manner made him unparalleled in many ways as a chairman. He had an unrivalled lightness of touch and an unfathomable ability in drawing diverse interests together. As a result he offered what only true friends do - he consistently challenged intellectually and was tireless in providing support and guidance. He was, therefore, a joy to be with, both in the boardroom and out."

Tim also accepted an invite from an old friend Neil Utley to become a non-executive of Hasting Insurance after its split from its parent IAG through a buyout.

"Tim was one of the first NEDs on the Hastings Insurance Services Board (Hastings Direct), joining in Feb 2009 following the MBO, and he was chair of the audit committee, " recalls Hastings executive director Edward Fitzmaurice.

"Tim played a pivotal role in developing the corporate governance structure of our company and helped to establish our corporate culture of compliance. Beyond this, Tim played a mentor role to me when I was CEO, and there is no doubt that Hastings would not be the success it is today without having received the benefit of his counsel, guidance, challenge and sense of humour."

Utley concludes: "I worked with Tim for almost 25 years in many businesses. He was a personal friend, a client, a supplier, a colleague and for the last few years we have been directors together on several boards. With his enchanting wife, Ann, we have travelled together and enjoyed each other's company.

"Tim was one of the finest figures in our industry, dedicated to it and to furthering it, serious and trustworthy and great company. Whilst we have lost a dear friend, Ann, Justin, Tarrant and Davinia have lost a fantastic husband and devoted father. Our thoughts and love are with them whilst we remember fondly all our great times with Tim."

Tim died on Saturday 25 May in hospital, where he was undergoing a series of medical tests. His family were with him.

A memorial service is expected to be held in the City - details to follow.