Our Insider wonders if Yorkshire-based Moove’s cow themed office could be a step too far

Milking the market
I don’t know about you, but when I was an underwriter I never saw a broker’s office kitted out with grass floors, cow print wallpaper and a large origami cow. However, that is the status quo at Moove Insurance, a new broker that has just opened in Yorkshire. It’s certainly one way to make your business stand out.

Above and beyond
Congratulations to Biba’s Graeme Trudgill, who has picked up the individual contribution of the year gong at the Confederation of British Industry’s best practice awards. The judges said Graeme won for going “above and beyond” his role at the trade body.

Fleet of foot
It seems that the Legal & General people are among the speediest in the City. An L&G team picked up the insurance division title in the mixed team category of the charity race organised by Standard Chartered Bank. L&G runners also won first prize in both the men’s and women’s team insurance races. For everyone else, more training is clearly in order.

Bank of John
I usually steer clear of the hornets’ nest that is banking, but for once I’ll make an exception. John French celebrates 35 years at Barclays. He has spent much of this time helping the insurance industry, and particularly Lloyd’s players, raise cash, and apparently gave Stephen Catlin his start-up money. See, not all at Barclays are bad eggs …

Vegging out
Anyone working in insurance will no doubt occasionally long for the simple life. One such man is Hiscox Bermuda chief executive Charles Dupplin, who tells me that he will be taking 10 weeks out this summer to “watch the carrots grow” on his Scottish farm before moving to Hiscox in London.

A high note
You know me, always hob-nobbing in high circles, and so it was that I was at a wedding last week in Berkshire and rather amused to see Aviva chairman John McFarlane jump up on stage to sing to the bride and groom. He’s a real talent, I must say. If McFarlane’s business skills are as good as his singing, they’ll be music to the ears of Aviva’s long-suffering shareholders.

Gunning for business
Claims Standard Council policy director Andy Wigmore is training hard for his role in the Belize Olympic shooting team. In fact, he is taking the event so seriously that he has even moved his office into the Olympic village temporarily to squeeze in some extra shotgun time.

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