Independent Burgess Hill-based insurance brokers, underwriters and risk management consultants, Bennett Christmas, is acquiring Horley-based community insurance brokers, Cardale Assurance Facilities Ltd, as part of its ongoing expansion.
The existing members of Cardale staff will join the Bennett Christmas Insurance Brokers team with immediate effect and include brokers Jason Wetherfield, Ian Sheridan and Andrea Smith, while Cardale Director Nigel Fletcher will take his well-earned retirement.
The team will continue to operate from their Horley base, which will become a satellite office for Bennett Christmas. They will be joined by the BC Risk Management team, headed by Anthony Birch, which will relocate from Burgess Hill.
“We’re delighted to bring Cardale into the Bennett Christmas family. Our customers choose us because we’re real people who live and breathe a culture of care. The Cardale team share these values and commitment to providing a personalised service and going the extra mile for our customers – it’s a perfect fit,” said Mark Bennett, CEO, Bennett Christmas.
He paid tribute to Val Cardale, who had entered talks with Bennett Christmas before her untimely death earlier this year.
“Val and her husband had met their local community’s insurance needs for more than 40 years and were widely respected within the local industry. We are proud to continue that service,” said Mark.
Anthony Birch, Associate Director, BC Risk Management added: “The satellite office allows us to provide health and safety audits, training and site inspections for construction, manufacturing and other businesses in Horley, Surrey and across the south east. It also allows us to expand and we are pleased to be recruiting for a new health and safety advisor.”
Nigel Fletcher, Director, Cardale Assurance Facilities Ltd said: “We are pleased to place our long-established business in independent, local hands. Our aligned processes and procedures will ensure that our customers continue to receive the high levels of service they’re used to and benefit from the broader service offering that our combined businesses will provide.”