INSURANCE giant Zurich Financial Services has denied claims that its Eagle Star brand - employing 350 people in Whiteley - was under threat.

In an interview with trade publication Insurance Times, Zurich chief executive Patrick O'Sullivan was quoted as saying the home and motor insurer was not "sustainable in the long term".

Eagle Star had already said that its sales of motor and home insurance through direct call centres have been falling while sales of its policies through brokers have been rising.

However, Wendy May, company spokeswoman, said Mr O'Sullivan's comments had been taken out of context and that Zurich Financial Services had no intention of dropping its Eagle Star operation.

She said: "We will continue to offer insurance through our direct insurer Eagle Star over the telephone or on the Internet and also continue to do so through our broker. The way we advertise the two brands is under review. It might be unsustainable to advertise them separately. We might consider a name change but no firm decisions have been taken yet."

Meanwhile Eagle Star has denied its call centre project in India is to blame for its decision to close its Bournemouth call centre with the loss of 400 jobs.

As reported in the Daily Echo, up to 100 staff could relocate to the call centre in Whiteley.

In total, Zurich Financial Services employs 1,500 people at its offices at Solent Business Park.