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18 September 2015 Insurance

60 Seconds with Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner, the recently appointed executive chairman of Pen Underwriting talks to Intelligent Insurer about getting to know his peers at Pen, his love of golf and his impressive cooking skills.

Why is this move right for you at this stage in your career?

This is a great opportunity irrespective of the point in time of my career. The chance to help build, develop and expand Pen, which is already an impressively diversified business with a strong market presence, would be an exciting role for anyone.

What will you bring to the role?

A different perspective I guess. Historically my career has been 100 percent focused on the underwriting side of the fence which gives me a certain viewpoint and philosophy.

The existing underwriting team at Pen has a huge amount of expertise and experience, but they haven’t necessarily had someone in the team with my background before. I’ll be looking to utilise the breadth and variety of my underwriting experience as well as my knowledge of Lloyd’s and the international company market.

What are your initial objectives in the new role?

Remembering people’s names is number one! I want to focus on getting to know people within Pen, establish how we drive the business forward and fulfil our strategy of becoming a virtual insurer while also ensuring we maximise our opportunities to add value at every stage of the underwriting process.

What will be your biggest challenge in the new role?

Pen is in good shape, but navigating through a difficult pricing environment isn’t a simple task for anyone. The biggest challenge in the current underwriting cycle is helping provide Pen with meaningful opportunities to expand and develop our business in a sensible, logical and sustainable fashion.

Why did you choose to work in this industry initially?

Like most people, I fell into it. I used to caddy for Chris Ridgwell, who ran a reinsurance underwriting agency on Lime Street in the 1980s. He offered me the chance to do four week’s work experience after my O-levels in 1985.

The underwriting team took me down the pub and the rest, as they say, is history! I worked for them over my university holidays and then joined the company, Ridgwell, Fox and Partners when I graduated.

If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. Like many young men I would have loved to become a professional sportsman, but the insurance industry has been really good to me. I’ve had the opportunity to travel, meet interesting people and experience different cultures. Plus, I have been lucky enough to play a lot of golf – in fact I’ve met a few semi-professional golfers who claim to have a day job as an underwriter or broker!

What are you doing when you are not at work?

Travelling, enjoying life and making the most of what London has to offer. My father used to say ‘Life ain’t a dress rehearsal’, which is the maxim I try to live by. My wife would say I spend most of my time watching sport on TV and, though clearly untrue, I do find it a great way to relax and switch off.

What is your secret vice?

We have a favourite holiday destination in Mexico and when I’m there I order a Clamato Michelada at midday. It’s a bit like a Bloody Mary but with beer rather than vodka, lots of ice, lime, Clamato juice and salt on the rim of the glass. It’s incredibly refreshing and far more acceptable than drinking a gin martini before lunchtime!

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

I enjoy cooking and make a mean dairy and sugar free ice cream, as well as some pretty outstanding chocolates, even if I say so myself – they’re close to being Great British Bake-off worthy.

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