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Chief executive of RSA Insurance resigns, says he was the 'fall guy'

Philip Smith, who was suspended as the company investigates irregularities, said there was a “predetermined outcome”

PHILIP SMITH, THE head of RSA Insurance who had been suspended as the company investigates reported irregularities, has resigned.

RSA had suspended three staff after it claimed it had uncovered “issues” at the Irish operations “claims and finance functions”. It was then forced to inject up to €100 million into the Irish arm of the business, issuing a profit warning in the process.

Smith issued a statement today, saying that he and his family had been “traumatised” by recent events and doubting the fairness of any investigation, saying that it was set up to arrive at a “predetermined outcome”.

“I am certain that when the recent issues arose, that I quickly became the ‘fall guy’ for all issues. It is my firm belief that this opinion was arrived at irrespective of my involvement or otherwise, making it impossible for me to achieve justice and fairness. I have therefore been left with no other option but to resign.”

Smith added that the company had been praised in the past for their regulatory record.

A spokesperson for the company said that no money had been paid to Smith.

“The resignation is effective immediately. No severance payment has been made to Mr Smith.

“RSA has today commenced the search for a new CEO in Ireland. In the interim Adrian Brown (currently CEO UK and Western Europe) continues to operate as acting CEO of RSA Ireland.

“No policy holders have been affected and RSA Ireland’s business continues to operate as normal.”

Read: PWC brought in to investigate RSA claims and finance

Read: ‘They have a handle on it’: Noonan plays down fears over RSA Insurance

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16 Comments
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    Mute Fred the Muss...
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    Oct 29th 2020, 8:12 PM

    In other words, man steps out in front of the Luas and gets a slap.

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    Mute Sean
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    Oct 29th 2020, 8:31 PM

    @Fred the Muss…: actually there has been several incidents with the Luas that was driver error.

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    Mute Caoimhín
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    Oct 29th 2020, 8:58 PM

    @Sean: Exactly. I saw one near miss where driver had ample time to switch lanes but continued straight. Can’t teach common sence to some drivers.

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    Mute Frank Gooding
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    Oct 29th 2020, 9:13 PM

    @Caoimhín: luas driver switch lanes. Hmm

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Oct 29th 2020, 9:21 PM

    @Sean: a train on a track, step out in front of a moving train and it’s your fault.

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    Mute Fred the Muss...
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    Oct 29th 2020, 9:26 PM

    @Sean: Your going to have to explain that to me. How can it be driver error unless they drive through a pedestrian crossing on a red?

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 29th 2020, 10:55 PM

    @Fred the Muss…: Was it a pedestrian or a driver?

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    Mute John Travers
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    Oct 29th 2020, 11:14 PM

    @Caoimhín: switch lanes in a Luas? That would be a good trick alright.. how does it do that?

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Oct 30th 2020, 9:50 AM

    @Sean: unless a Lucas driver brakes a light I can’t see many instances when’s it’s the drivers fault.

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    Mute herp
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    Oct 29th 2020, 9:09 PM

    ka-ching

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    Mute delmatey
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    Oct 30th 2020, 8:23 AM

    Hope his Phone wasn’t damaged or his ear plugs didn’t fall out.

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    Mute Irish Spider-Man
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    Oct 29th 2020, 11:43 PM

    All you folks have a one track mind!!!

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    Mute Teresa O'Halloran
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    Oct 29th 2020, 11:20 PM

    Thank God they were not seriously injured or worse.

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