Gulliford: potential for growth is huge

Alternative business structure (ABS) Quindell Portfolio plc has signed a contract to provide white-labelled accident management services to Renault UK.

It follows a similar deal with Honda announced six weeks ago.

The multi-year contract will see Quindell working with Renault across all of its brands, for drivers of both new and used vehicles, to provide first notification of loss, credit hire, repair and personal injury elements of the claims process as well as process all the management information.

Quindell will also provide a more comprehensive approach to ‘fault’ Renault customers.

Mark Crockett, services and quality director for Renault UK, said: “There is intense competition in our marketplace, but we believe the extra services provided by the new contract will improve retention and deliver a better customer experience with Renault.”

Robert Fielding, chief executive of Quindell’s services division, said: “This new agreement with Renault is a powerful endorsement of the comprehensive and high-value service which Quindell can deliver to the UK motor industry, bringing new levels of integration and technology and resulting in a significantly improved customer experience.”

Quindell’s share price – which has been under pressure since announcing its annual results two months ago – is slowly recovering. Having fallen from 13.25p to 6p, they are now trading at 10.5p, albeit still well below the 17p level reached last year.

Meanwhile, the white-label arm of Manchester firm Pannone – Pannone Affinity – has hired Jonathan Gulliford, one of the architects of Co-operative Legal Services, as a consultant to assist with its “ambitious growth plans”.

Pannone Affinity was launched by Pannone in 2011 to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Legal Services Act, and the firm has previously indicated that it could be spun off into an ABS.

Since its inception, Pannone Affinity has signed deals with a number of intermediaries to provide white-label legal advice in both consumer and commercial areas of law.

Charles Layfield, a partner in Affinity, said: “Jonathan brings a wealth of experience in the ever-changing legal market. We are delighted to welcome someone with Jonathan’s pedigree to assist in the development of Affinity.”

Mr Gulliford added: “It is exciting to be working with a business of the calibre of Pannone Affinity. With so many opportunities in the legal market post Legal Services Act and LASPO, the potential for growth is huge.”