Bradshaw to leave Rothschild Assurance

PAUL BRADSHAW, one of the founding directors of J Rothschild Assurance, the fast-growing two- year-old life office chaired by Sir Mark Weinberg, is thought to be leaving to head a new international operation for Scottish Amicable, writes Paul Durman.

The Scottish life insurer is one of the backers of JRA along with Lord Rothschild's St James's Place Capital. Scottish Amicable will announce details of its international plans at a London news conference today.

Mr Bradshaw denied he was leaving because of a row with Keith Carby, JRA's managing director.

Mr Bradshaw has been running J Rothschild International, JRA's Dublin-based international arm. In 1993, its first year, JRI attracted premium income of pounds 52.7m, mostly from lump sum investments. JRI hopes to establishes alliances with European banks to take advantage of the European Union's third life directive. One possibility may be that Scottish Amicable will acquire JRI.

JRA's products were designed by Mr Bradshaw, who is an actuary. He was previously the founder and managing director of Skandia Life, the British arm of the Swedish insurance group.