ARAG, the specialist legal insurer with its UK head office in Bristol, has made three key senior manager promotions as it advances its plans to develop a new generation of products.
Helen Futter, Anne Wienand and Marc Willett all joined ARAG earlier this year when it acquired DAS UK, the rival legal protection insurer which also had its headquarters in Bristol. 
Anne, who has been appointed head of strategic partnerships, and Marc, who is now head of propositions, had worked at DAS UK since 2017 while Helen, promoted to head of product governance, just over three years ago.
As head of strategic partnerships, Anne, pictured, will lead a team managing relationships with ARAG’s larger insurance business partners.
She started her career in investment management with Barclays before joining BGL Group in 2004, where she spent most of her 13 years managing key accounts for the group’s corporate partnerships division Junction.
Marc began his product management career at the RAC before moving to Lloyds Banking Group, where he worked in a number of product, propositions and brand development roles, over more than a decade.
As head of propositions, he will be responsible for the development of new products and propositions for ARAG’s business partners. 
Helen, pictured, takes on responsibility for governance across ARAG’s entire product portfolio, including before-the-event, after-the-event and insured assistance policies.
Her appointment underlines the company’s commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for both its business partners and their customers. She previously spent 15 years with BGL Group.
ARAG director of partnerships and propositions Jay Prosser said: “These are three crucial roles in our business that will be instrumental in delivering on the bold plans that ARAG has for growth.
“We’re fortunate to have such a rich resource of talent to call upon that we can appoint such candidates who not only strengthen our team, but also the propositions that we have to offer business partners.
“I’m very lucky to have worked with Anne for more than a decade, both at DAS UK and previously with BGL. She has been a brilliant senior partnerships manager and is a great asset to the ARAG team.
“Marc’s extensive experience in developing products and propositions, both within the legal expenses market and beyond it, will be invaluable in implementing ARAG’s ambitious product development strategy.”
ARAG director of underwriting David Haynes added: “Helen has a deep understanding of how products are designed and the importance of a truly customer-centric approach in developing our propositions.
“I’m really looking forward to working with her as we build the next generation of ARAG’s market-leading products.”
He said product governance was “absolutely critical” to the ambitious goals that ARAG planned to reach by 2030.
“Our duty to consumers is reinforced by the strong relationships we have with business partners, but it also gives us a responsibility to ensure that customer outcomes are fully understood and valued from the initial design of a product to the closing of a claim,” he added.
ARAG said the appointments demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to delivering first-class propositions for its business partners and extending access to justice as widely as possible.
Following its acquisition of German-owned DAS UK in January, ARAG is to roll out a range of ‘best-in-class’ products to sell through its broker, insurer and MGA (managing general agent) partners.
ARAG, also German-owned, launched in the UK from Bristol in 2006. It is part of the global ARAG Group, which employs more than 4,700 people in 19 countries around the world.
DAS, which had been a pioneer in the legal expenses insurance market since the concept was first introduced to the UK in 1975, was acquired by ARAG from the German ERGO Group – one of Europe’s largest insurance groups whose majority shareholder is insurance giant Munich Re.
The move created a business with around 800 staff in Bristol.
