Hastings Direct's mascot is Britain's biggest loser

Jon_McKnight

What on Earth possessed Hastings Direct to choose Harry, the animated version of King Harold, as their mascot?

Cute he may be, and his singing of the company's phone number 0800 00 1066 sounds all very avuncular, but it's hard to imagine why an insurance company like Hastings would risk pinning their success on a figure whose leadership skills and achievements can hardly inspire confidence.

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at the marketing meeting when Harry was chosen!

Did no-one have either the historical knowledge or the courage to point out that Harold lost his eye, his life, and his kingdom in the most catastrophic failure ever to beset this country?

He was, without a doubt, the biggest loser in British history.

Just three little words, uttered at the right time, would have saved Hastings Direct from themselves: "William the Conqueror".

What other gems can we expect if the culprit who thought that one up branches out into other industries? Canute water-repellents? Icarus Airlines? Herod's Kindergartens?

lisyloo

but it's hard to imagine why an insurance company like Hastings would risk pinning their success on a figure whose leadership skills and achievements can hardly inspire confidence

I think it's all about memory.
I do remember their phone number ends in 1066, so clearly it works at that level.

raskazz

I think you're taking this a little bit too seriously to be honest. I think your assumption that the character is "the animated version of King Harold" is incorrect, I don't think that it is intended to respresent a historical character, I suspect that they chose the name Harry purely because it goes well with Hastings to form 'Harry Hastings'.

I bet the majority of the population don't know who King Harold was anyway!

19ninety

King who? :D

stooby

I bet the majority of their policyholders don't realise their insurer is domiciled in Gibraltar rather than the UK either