esure was founded in 2000 by Chairman, Peter Wood, to offer competitive insurance cover by using the Internet as a primary sales channel. Mr Wood pioneered the direct selling of insurance over the telephone back in 1985, when he launched Direct Line. With esure, his aim was to go a step further and harness the efficiency of the Internet to give a better deal to responsible drivers and careful homeowners.
From the outset, our goal was to offer superior service - on both the internet and phone - while using technologically advanced systems and underwriting to keep premiums low.
In just a few years, esure became one of the fastest growing insurers ever, with over 1 million customers joining us before our 5th birthday. Overall, esure has received numerous accolades for the quality of our cover and online services as well as our innovative marketing.
The company took another major step forward with the launch of the Sheilas' Wheels brand in 2005, initially offering just car insurance. Sheilas' Wheels has gone on to be one of the most recognised female insurance brands in the UK. Sheilas' Wheels home insurance was launched in 2008 and, more recently, Sheilas' Wheels travel insurance in January 2010.
In February 2010, Peter Wood led a management buy-out of the stake in esure originally held by Halifax/HBOS and latterly Lloyds Banking Group.
In February 2013, esure Group plc announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange.