Penny Black's Insurance Week - 21 May 2015

Exhibitors often co-ordinate their dress and the ladies from the Chartered Insurance Institute looked particularly swish this year, attired in purple suits to match Ciindy - the face of its new campaign. However, it seems the purple skirt and jacket combo were considered trendy beyond CII towers, with one of the delegates reportedly also turning up in a ‘Ciindy suit'. Slightly awkward, methinks.

Penny watched with intent as Jeremy Paxman made an appearance at Biba 2015. Would he turn on the charm or would we get treated to the shark-like attacks on interviewees he is renowned for? Penny was eagerly hoping for the latter - and was not disappointed. In the middle of the CEO's panel session, Paxman looked Ageas boss Andy Watson dead in the eye, bared his teeth and sneered: "Well that's just a load of rubbish..." as Watson tried to make a point about the claims-handling process. Penny noted that the audience lapped it up as Watson told the crowd: "If you're wondering, yes that was as scary as it looked." Penny hopes the free-flowing champagne at the conference helped him forget his terrifying experience.

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