Insurance company moving to Croydon

Insurance company Zurich is moving its south London operations to Croydon.

The town's excellent transport links and Croydon's reputation as an insurance centre have been cited as reasons for the move from neighbouring Sutton.

A location for the company's new home has not yet been decided but the plan is to move later this year.

A spokesman for Zurich said: "As a location, Croydon will deliver the least disruption for our 140 employees, while providing us with the advantage of being within a vibrant insurance market.

Croydon has excellent transport links to the whole of the south, which will allow us to gain more access to our key partners who can visit our new environment, further cementing existing relationships and forging new ones."

The move, coupled with the announcement this week that John Lewis is to open a new store on Purley Way, has been widely welcomed.

Jon Rouse, chief executive of Croydon Council, told the authority's scrutiny and overview committee this week: "This has been a week of great news for Croydon."

And a spokesman for the Croydon Economic Development Company, said: "Clearly these firms have recognised that Croydon has all the right elements for a successful move."