Life insurers are the "dinosaurs of the 21st century," warns Suncorp

Jonathan Swift
clock

Suncorp group chief executive Patrick Snowball, the man who previously ran Aviva's UK operation, has warned life insurers they could die out unless they innovate and change.

In an exclusive interview with Incisive Media's Post, Mr Snowball - who left Aviva in 2007 - said: "I think fundamentally the problem in the UK is that the life insurance company per se is the dinosaur of the 21st century. "The reason I say that is these firms are trying to sell 30 year products in a world where consumers want to access and switch, if not every year, then at least every five years." Mr Snowball added: "Now [former Aviva Life, now Aviva UK CEO] Mark [Hodges] has done a great job in re-engineering Aviva Life, and it was the plan that he and I put in place three years ag...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Protection

Kevin Carr on AI: I don't think we've even seen the tip of the iceberg

Kevin Carr on AI: I don't think we've even seen the tip of the iceberg

'The technology is evolving faster than many of us can imagine'

Kevin Carr
clock 13 May 2026 • 4 min read
Life insurance: Complexity vs cost and the confidence gap

Life insurance: Complexity vs cost and the confidence gap

Complexity and uncertainty create frustration for consumers and operational drag for advisers

Kevin Carr
clock 30 April 2026 • 4 min read
Holloway Friendly and Wiltshire Friendly to merge

Holloway Friendly and Wiltshire Friendly to merge

No job losses anticipated

Jaskeet Briah
clock 20 April 2026 • 2 min read