Insurer reveals county job cuts

Zurich has offices in 20 locations across the UK

Some 190 jobs will be axed at two of Zurich's general insurance offices in Hampshire, the business has revealed.

Of the 1400-strong workforce in Whiteley, 170 posts will go, along with 20 from Zurich's Southampton base.

A consultation period with the Union of Finance Staff and the Zurich Partnership Group is expected to conclude early September.

Zurich employs 5,400 staff in 20 UK locations. In June, it announced up to 900 positions could be lost.

Reduce cost base

Guy Munnoch, Zurich's UK general insurance chief executive, said: "Market conditions remain tough and look likely to remain challenging throughout 2008.

"To ensure we remain in a strong, competitive position for the future, we have decided to act swiftly and reduce our cost base, enhance our effectiveness, whilst maintaining our customer focus.

"Decisions that impact people are always tough; that is why we wish to move with pace and sensitivity while keeping a clear focus on maintaining our position as the multi-segment, multi-distribution insurer in the UK."

Zurich's two largest sites are in Birmingham and Whiteley.