According to very well informed Russian sources, Lloyd's have made the decision on the candidacy of its Moscow office head. The unit will likely be led by Sir Tony Brenton, former British Ambassador, currently advisor to Lloyd’s.
What do we know about the guy? His full name is Sir Antony Russell Brenton KCMG (the last four letters are not initials; they simply mean the future head of Lloyd's Moscow office is Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George). Sir Tony served as head of the British Embassy in Russia between 2004 and 2008, and that time was not the best in his life.
"Rarely, even in the darkest days of the Cold War, has a British envoy to the Kremlin faced such sustained professional and personal attacks as this Cambridge-educated diplomat," The Mail on Sunday wrote quite graphically in 2008, after Sir Tony resigned from his Foreign Office position. According to the former Ambassador, the Russian secret service was closely monitoring him and his staff. "I can’t say more in detail. But the evidence is there that we need to be careful," Sir Tony stated back then to the publication. Rumour has it, even the Ambassador's two cats were regularly checked for eavesdropping devices - although the diplomat denied this in the interview.
"One of the sad things about working here <in Russia> is that you have to assume you are being listened to," Sir Tony said to the publication. Well, as head of the Lloyd's Moscow office, he'll have to get used to the feeling again. The ex-Ambassador will be listented to in the Russian (re)insurance community - this time, in a positive sense of the word.
"Rarely, even in the darkest days of the Cold War, has a British envoy to the Kremlin faced such sustained professional and personal attacks as this Cambridge-educated diplomat," The Mail on Sunday wrote quite graphically in 2008, after Sir Tony resigned from his Foreign Office position. According to the former Ambassador, the Russian secret service was closely monitoring him and his staff. "I can’t say more in detail. But the evidence is there that we need to be careful," Sir Tony stated back then to the publication. Rumour has it, even the Ambassador's two cats were regularly checked for eavesdropping devices - although the diplomat denied this in the interview.
"One of the sad things about working here <in Russia> is that you have to assume you are being listened to," Sir Tony said to the publication. Well, as head of the Lloyd's Moscow office, he'll have to get used to the feeling again. The ex-Ambassador will be listented to in the Russian (re)insurance community - this time, in a positive sense of the word.
UPD: (Nov 18) Our very well informed sources dispel the rumour that the London congrlomerate has chosen an insurance professional to take the Moscow seat. The sources confirm once again: Sir Tony Brenton is Lloyd's guy for Russia.
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