Page 4 - The Bureau

Founded in March 1998 by Alastair Murray* The Bureau began life when

the Internet was just getting started and few insurance brokers and
insurance companies had a Domain name, let alone a Website.

Alastair previously worked for Loxton Business Systems where he and two school friends

set-up shop in the mid 1980’s to code and design insurance broker and financial adviser back

office systems. The business was eventually sold to a large IBM dealership in the early 1990’s
after which Alastair moved to Eurosure Insurance Marketing* headed up my Mike Lynas*,
the ex MD of Countrywide*, Misys’ schemes managers, where he was appointed marketing
manager. Eurosure then became the offi cial

‘Insurance Schemes’ managers for Quotel’s
users which was formed into the Quotel User

Group or the Association of Quotel* Users (AQU)

running preferential insurance schemes for the benefit of its members.

Following the purchase of Eurosure by Quotel, Alastair left Eurosure in March 1998 and

formed The Bureau. Initially the plan was to offer ‘big-company’ marketing services to small

firms like brokers and IFAs, by promoting its ‘Marketing Programmes Initiative’, arranging
‘bulk-buying’ purchasing power for a range of marketing services called ‘The Programmes’
including ‘Incentive Schemes’, ‘Tele-marketing’, ‘Direct Mail’, ‘Literature, and ‘The Internet

Programme’.

Promotions began and it was ‘The Internet Programme’
that received all the enquiries from brokers and IFAs.,

eager to register a Domain name, set-up email addresses,
and publish a Website. Little else was asked for and

The Bureau quickly became an Internet business
registering Domains, setting-up email accounts and

designing Websites for its prime audience, brokers
and IFAs.

The late 90s was the time of the ‘Dot-com’ boom that

introduced firms to the idea of the Web, Email and
Domain names. Google didn’t exist and dial-up

modems were the norm.

Through past associations with key broker system
houses, user groups and leading insurers The Bureau

got off to a good start.