Derry Andrews, general manager of Clinicare, likes the high seas and his mother-in-law
What newspaper do you read?
Financial Times and Daily Telegraph. Daily Mail for relaxation.
What career did you want to have when you were a child?
Royal Navy or Merchant Navy.
What do you like best about insurance?
The camaraderie, particularly in what is the tight-knit community comprising private medical insurance.
What would you do tomorrow if you left the insurance industry?
Set up a yacht chartering business in the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean.
How do you relax if you do not play golf?
I sail.
What is the biggest insurance claim you have ever made?
It was a household claim following a burst pipe. I seem to recall it was for about £3,000.
What is your favourite book?
Heavy reading is unfortunately an essential part of the job. My personal reading has to be relaxing. I particularly like Frederick Forsyth.
What is your favourite film?
Nothing in particular. I'm not a film buff.
What is your favourite tea?
Earl Grey with milk, not lemon.
Who do you most admire?
I have no particular role model, but I certainly admired Margaret Thatcher's tenacity.
Do you have an unfulfilled ambition?
No, I count myself very lucky.
On dress-down Friday, what do you wear?
The same kind of clothes I wear every other day.
How many people have you sacked?
After 35 years in the business, I can honestly say I have lost count.
What is your favourite quote?
A Shakespearean quote: “What bloody man is that?”
How often do you use public transport?
Frequently – train and tube.
What was your first job?
A navigating apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy.
What is your most overused phrase?
Don't bring me problems; bring me solutions.
What keeps you awake at night?
My 11-month–old daughter.
What advice would you give someone starting in insurance today?
Keep a sense of humour.
Where did you grow up?
Some would say I haven't. But I spent my childhood on the Isle of Wight.
What was your education?
Prep school followed by four years at the Nautical College in Pangbourne.
What is your favourite joke?
The question is “What is the similarity between a woman and a hurricane?” The answer is neither politically correct nor appropriate for readers of Insurance Times, but I can say it has a ring of truth in light of my own experiences.
Who do you vote for?
My mother-in-law.
Are you in favour of the Euro?
Yes.
