Penny Speed meets... Tony Emms, Zurich UK chief claims officer
Being an insatiable socialite, Penny Black is always eager to probe the personalities behind the professional veneer of her industry friends. What better way to squeeze in and share as many intimate revelations as possible than her very own ‘speed meeting’ column? This week, it’s the turn of Zurich's Tony Emms, chief claims officer, Zurich UK.
What was your first ever job — and were you any good at it?
As a teenager I worked Saturdays in the Co‑op toy department. I was no good – I played with the toys
If an MP3 player could only hold three tunes, what would you select for the ultimate soundtrack to your life?
Mr Bojangles plus anything by each of Eric Clapton and Gary Moore
Who was your top teenage pin-up?
Linda Lusardi
My colleagues won’t know this about me but...
I completely switch off and relax at home and don’t worry about work all of the time
Favourite book of all time?
Steve Jobs, the biography by
Walter Isaacson
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t upset anyone in the insurance industry. It’s a small world
What would be your chosen superpower?
Transportation in time and place
If you could be Prime Minister for the day, what change would you instigate and why?
I would hugely increase the penalties for people found guilty of insurance fraud
How would a typical school report about you read?
Tony makes a good contribution when focused, but can distract the class with his sense of humour
My top tip for climbing the insurance career ladder is...
Work hard, earn the respect of your peers and become an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute as quickly as you can
What’s the most annoying thing people do in your office?
Arrange too many meetings
My last supper would comprise...
Sea bass, new potatoes and spinach
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My wife Robyn, who keeps me in line
When I’m not working I like to...
Keep fit with my 10k running or work in my garden
Last film you saw?
Monsters University
If I wasn’t working in insurance I would probably be...
Working in the leisure industry in a hot, sunny country
Name your five ideal dinner party guests (dead or alive) noting what they bring to the party
A young Muhammad Ali, Sir Alex Ferguson, Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill and Neil Armstrong. An eclectic mixture of inspirational, interesting, experienced and outspoken people from very different walks of life who would generate a very interesting and challenging after‑dinner debate
Marmite: food of the gods or work of the devil?
Food of the gods
Career high point to date?
It will be when we finally complete the replacement all of our claims systems with one single system
What do you say when strangers at a social gathering ask what you do for a living?
That I’m a chartered insurer, but if they don’t understand that I say I work in insurance
If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
The 1960s
Finish this sentence: Insurance is a great industry to work in because...
It’s an interesting and important industry that gives you a great sense of being part of a big family that provides a vital contribution to keeping businesses and the country moving.
This article was published in the 3 October edition of Post magazine
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