Groupama Insurances, part of the France-based Groupama Group, has completed the centralization of commercial and personal claims management team with four new appointments at its claims center in Portsmouth.

The new line up for its new senior claims management team will report to claims director Phil Bird.

Karl Parr has been appointed head of large and complex loss with responsibility for managing a team of technical claims handlers across two sites in Portsmouth and Borehamwood. He will also oversee the management of large healthcare and personal accident losses that are handled by Groupama Healthcare in Letchworth.

Steve Caffrey, formerly heading up claims planning, has been appointed as head of technical claims responsible for the technical direction of personal and commercial claims handling and the management of delegated authorities. In addition, Groupama’s counter fraud team will also come under Caffrey’s remit.

Darren Wills has been appointed head of claims development. He will be responsible for key claims projects, training of claims staff and the production of management information for claims, planning and budgets and process optimization. He will also take line management responsibility for Groupama’s team of engineers.

Daryn Hughes has been appointed as head of operations responsible for managing the Portsmouth claims center. He will be focused on the operational management of both personal insurance claims and commercial insurance claims, along with the Personal Injury fast track unit. He moves from his previous role as center manager at Borehamwood.

Bird said that Karl, Steve, Darren and Daryn have the proven skills and commitment to really drive forward our restructured claims division and it’s very gratifying to know that they are all home grown talent.

“We have now completed the move of our commercial claims handling to Portsmouth and are pleased to have found roles for almost 50% of the people previously employed in Borehamwood,” Bird said.