An Post completes takeover of Aviva Ireland branches

Ireland’s An Post has said its financial services subsidiary, One Direct, has now completed the takeover of insurance firm Aviva Ireland’s local personal insurance branch network. The two companies agreed back in May for Aviva’s personal and automotive insurance products to be sold through post offices and the branches of An Post’s One Direct outlets.

As part of the deal, 45 Aviva staff have now transferred to One Direct, as have four branch offices in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny and Bray.

An Post said Aviva branch customers would be able to continue their service through One Direct via post offices and One Direct outlets.

Aviva’s commercial insurance business, and personal health insurance, life assurance and pensions business was not part of the One Direct deal and remains with Aviva.

An Post’s One Direct business was founded in 1999 and currently employs more than 100 staff, with a base in Athlone.

Relationship

David Egan, the One Direct managing director, said his company had had a long-standing relationship with Aviva, but said the new deal strengthened their partnership.

“Through our association with An Post we can continue to provide top quality, convenient, personal service to customers in their local area. We are investing heavily in the One Direct customer facilities at both post offices and new One Direct outlets, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Aviva customers,” he said.

Aviva has been downsizing its Irish business over the past year, restructuring its European operations and consolidating its Irish and UK business.

Seán Egan, the chief executive of Aviva Ireland, said the transfer of retail operations to One Direct was about maintaining customer access to Aviva insurance products and minimising job losses.

“Aviva Ireland’s goal throughout this transfer process was to ensure that our customers would continue to enjoy a high level of service and access to Aviva products,” he said.

“We also wanted to safeguard jobs. Aviva’s agreement with One Direct achieves both.”