As part of leading Polaris, Vivek is responsible for developing the organisation’s strategic priorities in consultation with its Board of Directors, who are senior leaders from Polaris’ shareholding organisations, both insurers and brokers.
Prior to joining Polaris, Vivek was the Chief Digital Officer for Gallagher UK, leading the development of a multi-product, multi-country digital distribution platform and a variety of targeted online and mobile apps. Before Gallagher, Vivek worked for Brit Insurance and for NIG, primarily leading the development of their online distribution propositions. In addition to Digital development, Vivek has also led functional areas such as offshoring business processes, distribution proposition development and product development. Before joining the general insurance industry, Vivek worked in the life insurance and management consulting sectors.
Vivek is a persistent and struggling golfer who remains optimistic about the direction of his game despite his weekly travails in this area. He is also a cricket enthusiast and a firm believer in the purity of test cricket.
Martin joined Polaris in 2007 with the primary role of company accountant. Whilst maintaining his financial responsibilities he has evolved to have a detailed working knowledge and understanding of our services and has helped support the wider business in implementing new initiatives. His experience of ProductWriter spans over 10 years, with his first major project overseeing Release 22 which overhauled a lot of the existing functionality and design elements.
Martin implemented the Good Customer Outcomes (GCO) service, leading the Assurance Team in reviewing insurer products and Software House systems. His overall aim was to ensure that these components collectively contribute to the delivery of good customer outcomes throughout the insurance life cycle, starting at pre-quote through to ongoing policy management and servicing. This is still an on-going initiative, now managed by our Standards team.
Prior to joining Polaris, Martin worked as an accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers for 6 years. Martin also holds the CII Diploma in Insurance qualification. Outside of Polaris, he can be seen tinkering with his 60 year old American car or playing the guitar.
He has overseen the introduction of a new online database for subscribers to access messaging formats and code lists, the launching of new standards in response to demand from subscribers (such as cyber insurance, for short term property lets, and for motorhomes), and the development of standards to allow commercial lines products to be sold directly to consumers if insurers wish.
Steve also manages the Marketing team, who have recently relaunched the Polaris website.
Steve started his career working in the claims department of Commercial Union, and has been a product manager at Woolwich Building Society, Saga Services and Lombard Bank. Prior to joining, Steve was a Standards customer of Polaris in his five years at Google (following its acquisition of BeatThatQuote.com, where Steve had launched comparison services for household, private motor, travel, pet and breakdown insurances).
During his time at Google, Steve launched car and travel insurance comparison in the UK, car insurance comparison in France and worked with the team to launch car insurance comparison in the US.
Steve is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Steve is a QPR FC fan and is trying to wean himself off the pre-sets on his camera and instead learn manual mode, so he can with justification describe himself as an amateur photographer. Post lockdown, he’s been taking the opportunity to get to many more gigs and shows.
He introduced imarket Live–Chat into the Broker channel, which is used by seven major insurers and deployed into four brokers systems.
Simon regularly meets with senior stakeholders at insurers, brokers and broker systems to support the development of digital capability within the UK insurance market.
Prior to joining Polaris, Simon held a number of senior roles in Aviva, focusing on the development of propositions for the broker channel and leading activity in commercial and personal lines digital trading.
Simon is ACII qualified and has an MBA and outside of work is a supporter of both Middlesbrough FC and more latterly Ipswich Town, increasing the chance of his weekend not being spoilt by poor results.
When not in our London office, Simon often takes an early morning walk in the countryside seeing the sunrise over the marshes in Norfolk.
Some of the Polaris team, from left, back row: Martin Thornhill, Angela Bandey, Mark Stroud, Carl Parkes, Lyn Thomas, Simone Pope, Jessica Mavambu, Matt Doonan, Faith Oludare.
Middle row: Sarah Denver, Steve Waller, Simon Bloomfield, Shannon Yiadom.
Front row: Vivek Banga, Jackie Childs, Pooja Kaur, David Simpkin.
"I’ve stayed at Polaris for 17 years because the work blends my expertise in insurance and IT, keeping things dynamic and fulfilling. The variety, combined with the strong relationships I've built, has made it a rewarding journey."
"The mix of interesting work and great people is what has kept me at Polaris. My background in motor insurance aligned perfectly, and over the years, the connections I’ve made across the industry have been invaluable."
Collaboration is integral to our purpose and operations. Volunteering and supporting charities are a natural part of this.
We are also focused on doing our bit to protect the environment and world we live in.
