Key Contacts
Profiles of the Group's Management Team

Simon Hood, Chief Executive

Chief Executive of Hood Group, PlusOne Services, Select & Protect and PlusOne Insurance Solutions.  The Hood Group is privately owned and has evolved from the original company set up in 1983 in the City of London by Bernard Hood, Simon’s father.

After a number of years working as an estate agent Simon joined the company in 1989 to head up sales & marketing. He took over running the business in 1997 and is now Chief Executive of Hood Group, PlusOne Services, Select & Protect and PlusOne Insurance Solutions.

Simon is also a partner in a restaurant/bar/supperclub in Brick Lane called ‘The Brickhouse’ Simon lives in Woodford Green with his partner Lucie and 3 sons Toby, Ben and Jake. He is a keen traveller and fitness fanatic

James Wallis, Managing Director, PlusOne

Graduated from Loughborough University where I spent most of my time as a wannabe promoter putting on Indie bands. Left and became a primary school teacher for a short while before starting my commercial career at the bottom as an estate agent in Bedford working for Connells (where I met Simon Hood!).

Career spanned the boom and bust of the late 80s housing market, ended up as an Area Manager in North Essex before taking the plunge by joining Select & Protect as Head of Sales in 1994. Became a director in 1997, and moved across to set up PlusOne when the companies split in 2003.

Interests include watching all sports and playing the less strenuous ones like golf and cricket. I live just north of Colchester, married to Emma, we have three young daughters.

Bruce Reid, Managing Director, Select & Protect, Hood Direct

A keen sportsman, Bruce Reid arrived on these shores from New Zealand in 1985 and has been involved in the financial services industry for over 20 years in the life assurance, private medical and general insurance sectors.

Building on a successful sales management career with BUPA in the mid to late 1990’s, culminating in his role as Head of Direct Sales, Bruce joined AIG in 2000 as Regional Vice President for their Agency and later, Accident & Health operations with responsibility for the Central Eastern Europe region, using his knowledge and skills to help grow business in those developing markets.

Joining Select & Protect at the end of 2004 as Managing Director, Bruce has led and overseen the development of Select & Protect from a solus insurer offering to a multi-insurer proposition with a strong emphasis on broadening the distribution channels, the product offering, the technology platforms and customer experience.

In 2011, Bruce also took on the challenge of leading the launch of Hood Direct, which is the Hood Group’s affinity and consumer proposition.

Paul Firkins, Group Sales & Business Development Director

Paul joined Hood Group in June 2007 as Head of Sales and was promoted onto the Board as Sales Director in February 2009. Paul has over 20 years experience in developing general insurance schemes across an array of clients including mortgage lenders, intermediaries and affinities.  Paul is responsible for leading the sales strategy of the company and ensuring we successfully deliver our growth plans across all distribution channels.

Prior to joining us Paul was employed at Equity Group where he was responsible for founding a new subsidiary company operating within the financial intermediary market. He started his career with Heath Lambert in 1989 where he spent 15 years rising through the ranks to become Divisional Director of Financial Institutions.

Bob Gildie, Group Finance Director

Bob Gildie is a qualified Chartered Accountant, has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland since 1983. He trained and qualified with the Glasgow office of Deloitte and since qualifying, has held senior finance roles at FC/FD level with a number of respected UK businesses. Before joining the Hood Group, Gildie worked
with Bermis Associates UK as a Managing Director.

His key role is leading the finance function, delivering strategic changes and ensure provision of management accounting for the Group.

Ian Symmonds, Insurer Relationship Director

Ian Symmonds has over 30 years experience working across all lines of General Insurance for Aviva and their legacy companies in the intermediary businesses along with an ACII qualification. Most recently, he held the post of UK Strategic Account Director in National Brokers for Aviva where he worked for the past nine years.

Ian is responsible for developing insurer relationships and propositions for PlusOne and works closely with existing partners to help them increase the size and profitability of their accounts.