Collinson Group has announced that it has acquired corporate assistance specialist Specialty Assist, subject to regulatory approval.

Specialty Assist is a leading provider of medical assistance services to the corporate and London markets and the acquisition will further strengthen Collinson Group’s established global assistance capability.

This acquisition forms part of a broader programme of investment being made by Collinson Group to deliver a market leading global assistance proposition for its clients and their partners.

Managing Director of Specialty Assist, Mark Rands will lead Intana Specialty, working alongside Group Head of Intana, Martin Weintz. He will also join the group’s Insurance & Assistance executive team.

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Intana Specialty will provide a range of assistance-based services dedicated to the corporate market, including medical and security assistance, travel risk management and independent airport lounge access.

The new division will continue to support IPMI policies worldwide alongside other non-insured risks to protect and support business travellers and expatriate employees based overseas.

David Evans, managing director, insurance & assistance at Collinson Group, praised Speciality Asset for building “an excellent reputation as a London market specialist”.

“Intana Specialty will create an assistance proposition uniquely positioned to meet the specific and growing demands of the corporate market – underpinned by Collinson Group’s extensive portfolio of products and services that support the frequent traveller,” he said.

“With corporate travel spend expected to continue growing at a 10.2% annual pace over the next five years, assistance-based services will be increasingly important – both for corporations from a duty of care perspective as well as for employees as their end users.”

Mark Rands added that the business’s shared heritage in business travel will lead to a “compelling proposition in light of current and future corporate travel trends”.

“Intana Specialty will enable us to enhance greatly our corporate assistance proposition through access to an unrivalled portfolio of products, services and expertise across the entire travel experience through the Collinson Group”,” he said.

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