Optimal Protection has appointed Iain Watts as business development manager (BDM) to cover the southern half of England.

Watts has 15 years experience of working in protection and comes to Optimal following eight years in business development in Zurich’s corporate risk department.

He will support both new and existing advisers, meeting with them face-to-face to help them to understand how business protection and employee benefits can help their clients.

Watts says: “This is a particularly exciting time for Optimal as it is on the cusp of a number of new developments. Optimal has developed some great products already and there are more in the pipeline, it is also rapidly becoming known for its high service standards to advisers, so it is an exciting time to be joining.

“With the burgeoning number of small and medium sized businesses, there is a huge un-met need for business protection and employee benefits and I am looking forward to talking to advisers about the Optimal solutions that they can offer their clients.”

Nigel Hartley, managing director of Optimal Protection, added: “I see it as an enormous vote of confidence in Optimal and the reputation that we are developing for our service and relationship focused business model, that Iain would leave Zurich to join us.

“Iain brings a huge amount of experience which he will be using to add value to advisers across the south of the country so that Optimal continues to grow. Service is as important for Optimal as are the products we offer, Iain’s appointment gives our adviser network in the south of England the face-to-face contact and support they need.”