We recently bid farewell to Malcolm Cawsey, our Agriculture Motor Product Manager, who played a pivotal role in the success of our Agriculture book. He’s now off on a well-deserved break, travelling the world and enjoying fine food and wines. Before leaving, Malcolm dedicated time to mentoring the team and setting them up for continued growth.
We caught up with Matt Evans and Chris Denton to see how they’re settling into their new roles as Senior Trading Underwriters, making their mark and contributing to ERS’s ongoing success.
What makes our agriculture products and services stand out from the crowd?
We're not your typical insurance company. While others are pushing brokers through impersonal portals that just spit out a “computer says no”, we’re keeping it old school with empowered underwriters trading face to face with our brokers. Whether it’s a small farm, a massive fleet, or a tricky, complex case that needs a bit of expert finesse, we’re all about finding solutions that work. We’re the friendly, approachable experts who are always ready to take on a challenge.
Malcolm's retired and left some big shoes to fill. How are you settling into your new roles?
Matt:
There’s certainly a lot to learn and absorb, but the support from the wider team has been fantastic. I’ve had a similar role in the past and having spent eight years working alongside Malcolm, has put me in a great position to tackle the challenges ahead. It also helps that we’ve got such a collaborative team, all working towards a common goal.
It’s early days, but what are you enjoying the most so far?
Matt:
For me, it’s getting exposure to the wider broker market and building relationships with brokers that I wouldn’t have crossed paths with in my previous regional role in Wales. Having a national view of how the market’s performing and understanding how regional variances can affect the way we trade has been invaluable.
Chris:
It’s been great getting back out in the market and reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new brokers I’ve had long standing trading relationships with face-to-face. I recently attended the Farmers Union of Wales annual conference, which was a great opportunity to meet one of our partner brokers. I got to hear what drives their business and to see first-hand why our partnership works so well.
How’s the agriculture market doing right now? What exciting things have we been up to lately?
The agriculture market has seen remarkable growth over the last few years, and we’ve responded strengthening our operational, claims, and underwriting teams to keep delivering an excellent service, even during economic pressures. Consistency and reliability are at the core of what we do.
As we move forward, we're taking a closer look at our proposition, identifying what’s working and the areas that need improving. With David Ballinger joining as our new Regional Trading Underwriter and a review of our policy wording underway, we're now able to enhance our offering. Our goal is to refine our agricultural insurance proposition, so it meets our customers changing needs - while keeping the personal touch and problem-solving approach that sets us apart.
Why choose ERS? What makes us the go-to for brokers handling Agricultural Risks?
Chris:
There are many benefits to working with ERS. We’re double regulated by both the FCA and Lloyd’s and we’ve been around long enough to have policies that are over 50 years old. Everything including operations and claims are in house. This means we’re not just building strong relationships in underwriting, but across the business ensuring you get the best support from start to finish.
What hobbies or interests keep you busy in your free time?
Matt:
I’m a real petrol head! I spend a lot of my time driving and looking after my latest purchase – a Toyota GR Yaris. It’s not a Supercar or classic, – if you know, you know.
It’s arguably a bit geeky spending hours keeping it in tip top condition, but I love it. Aside from cars, like most parents, a lot of my time is used making sure my kids are happy!
Chris:
My two main hobbies are food and weightlifting and the two have a lot of synergy. I played Rugby for many years but as life’s priorities change (and I’m feeling a bit older and more beat-up), I’ve found new goals to keep me active outside of work. It’s all about finding balance and having something to keep you motivated.
