Wayne Pontin, sales director for national firm Jelf Group, used his first speech after being elected as chairman at the trade body’s annual general meeting to claim that AMII needed to open its membership to providers in order to survive.
He said: “I want to create a self-sufficient organisation. We have to engage with providers and offer provider membership so they can see the value in taking this industry into the future.”
Mr Pontin said he was disappointed at the low turnout for the general meeting at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, adding: “We need to get the message across of what this industry is about. The perception needs to change. We have to follow and invest in this industry or we won’t be around in the next 10 years.”
There were roughly 80 people present during the morning session, and the number fell to almost half after lunch.
Mr Pontin replaced Andrew Tripp, who revealed in his final chairman’s speech that 569 advisers had passed the revised Chartered Insurance Institute healthcare exam in the past two years.
Mr Tripp said: “My chairmanship has been focused on professionalism. There are enormous challenges in our economy and huge changes in provider product offerings. Everything is now menu-driven
“There is enormous consumer choice, that leads to consumers needing proper advice.”
He added that the big challenges facing the industry were increasing private medical insurance premiums and rising longevity.
Michael Payne, general secretary of AMII, told the conference that the CII would launch a certificate in healthcare and protection later this month.
