The Norwich Union media relations team has been voted the best press office at a financial services company in the UK.
The Norwich Union media relations team has been voted the best press office at a financial services company in the UK.
The award, based on the votes of personal finance and trade press journalists, was presented this week (8 October) at the Association of British Insurers Financial Media Awards 2003.
Norwich Union and parent company Aviva handles media relations from a 14-strong team, headed by Hayley Stimpson, director of external affairs.
Hayley Stimpson, Aviva's director of external affairs, said: "We’ve built a strong team of media relations professionals and placed high priority on building good working relationships with both journalists and our colleagues within the Norwich Union and Aviva businesses.
"By working in partnership with our in-house colleagues and demonstrating how media relations can add value to the business, we have been able to promote Norwich Union as a market leader and deliver what journalists want in a timely and efficient way."
In presenting the award Chris Wheal, chairman of the Financial Journalists’ Group, listed the following comments about the Norwich Union team from the journalists who voted them into the top spot:
- Is prepared to puts its head above the parapet and speak out. That is rare among insurers.
- They encourage company specialists with strong, forward looking opinions to express them rather than modify them.
- Always find top people for comments; always return calls promptly; understand deadlines; and are contactable 24/7
- Helpful, factual and quick; they are always a reliable source of statistics and case studies
- You can ask daft, even historic, questions and they come back within minutes with the answer.
- Will assist on a story even if there is no benefit to the company.
- They're proactive without being pushy.
Further details from:
Hayley Stimpson, director of external affairs, Aviva plc on 020 7662 7544
Notes to editors:
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer.
- Parent company Aviva plc is the world’s seventh-largest insurer based on worldwide gross written premiums.
- Aviva and Norwich Union news releases and a selection of images are available on the Aviva internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media