London, 5 May 2021 – ThingCo, the next generation telematics insurtech has appointed James Bashford as Head of Business Development. The appointment has been made as the business undergoes rapid expansion in response to broker and insurer demand for Theo – ThingCo’s self-fit, solar-powered telematics device powered by AI and Voice.
ThingCo has secured partnerships with eight brokers in just eight months since launching Theo to the insurance market and secured £3m investment from BHL(UK) Holdings, the majority owner of CompareTheMarket. This has all been achieved during the pandemic.
James Bashford brings over a decade of experience in the insurance market. He joins ThingCo from Octo where he led the team responsible for working with insurers and brokers to develop their telematics propositions. Prior to this, he spent seven years with esure, culminating in his appointment as corporate strategy manager.
Bashford will work alongside Martin Williams, Chief Operating Officer, as part of his business development team as ThingCo continues to develop new broker and insurer relationships.
ThingCo has rapidly expanded since August 2020 when it signed its first major broker deal with Freedom Brokers.
Martin Williams said: “It is fantastic to have James on board and part of our fast growing team. Our first broker partner went live last summer and we have not looked back. Each day is another record sales day for ThingCo.
“It is hugely gratifying to have reached this point in our growth, particularly after all of the operational and supply chain challenges of the past year as a result of the global lockdowns. However, what it has proved to us is that the insurance market is really starting to understand the power of the second-by-second driving data delivered by our device, to give consumers more flexible and personalised insurance cover to suit their lives today, combined with the means to quickly identify fraud and mitigate claims losses.”