Martin Long

Martin Long (born 26 August 1950) is a businessman and founder of Churchill Insurance.

Career Long began his career working in a number of insurance companies. He went on to become managing director of Halifax Insurance.

Together with Peter Wood, he founded Direct Line in 1985, the first telephone-only insurance company in the UK. Four years later, Long broke away to form Churchill Insurance, a company he would manage himself until its purchase by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2003, a deal that is said to have earned Long £50 million. After American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer made a deal with Crystal Palace F.C., Long now holds 2.5% with the Americans and Steve Parish being the majority share holders.