Andrew Torrance, general manager of Allianz Cornhill enjoys French food and sea-faring novels. He just wishes he'd had the savvy to invest in Vodafone.
What newspaper do you read?
Times, Financial Times, Sunday Times, Investors Chronicle, Insurance trade press
What career did you want to have when you were a child?
A racing driver
What is the worst business decision you have ever made?
Failing to invest in Vodafone when the
business was launched in the 1980s
What do you like best about insurance?
The mix of intellectual challenge and
personal relationships
What would you do tomorrow if you left the insurance industry?
Become a professional investor
How do you relax if you do not play golf?
I sleep
Who do you most admire?
Bill Shankley
What is your favourite quote?
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Do you have an unfulfilled ambition?
Several – but they're not for sharing
On dress-down Friday, what do you wear?
Polo shirt, chinos, deck shoes
How many people have you sacked?
No comment
What is your most over-used phrase?
Will this make us money?
What is the biggest insurance claim you have ever made?
About £1,300 for roof damage as a result of the 1987 hurricane
What keeps you awake at night?
Losing at tennis to my 15-year-old daughter
What advice would you give someone
starting in insurance today?
Don't aim to work for one company for your entire career. Be prepared to work for
insurers, brokers and in consultancy. Get a professional qualification
What was your first job?
Working in a quality control laboratory for Courtauld's before going to university
Where did you grow up?
Merseyside
What was your education?
Cambridge University and London Business School
What is your favourite book?
The Jack Aubrey and Stephen Matwin series of sea-faring novels written by Patrick O'Brien
What is your favourite film?
The Third Man with Orson Welles
What is your favourite dinner?
Anything cooked by Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir au Quat' Saisons
What is your favourite joke?
It'll be loss making in year one, but profits will be fantastic after that
How often do you use public transport?
Last week, it was eight train and four tube journeys
Are you in favour of the Euro?
The Euro is a great idea – unfortunately, it's an idea 50 years ahead of its time!
