Ian Robert Darnbrook
Job Title: Managing Director
Brief Overview: Ian started working at A1 Insurance way back in 1991, on a part-time basis – he also worked as a gardener at this time. Two years in and he well and truly caught the insurance bug and started full time, and has since enjoyed a steady rise to the top! He and Alan Beardmore took over from previous owner, Mel Jones, in January 2005 and when Alan retired in July 2016, Ian became the sole owner.
So, what do we know about the boss man?
Likes:
-Fast cars (read ‘bit of a petrol head’)
-Good food
-Cooking
-Craft beer
-Gardening (still green fingered and maintains the office foliage)
Dislikes:
-Noel Fielding AKA ‘Fat Elvis’
-Mushrooms and prawns
Favourite song – U2 – Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Favourite film – Spectre (James Bond)
Favourite colour – Red
Dream car – Aston Martin DBS SUPERLEGGERA (a red one!)
Best thing about his job: Problem-solving for customers
Contact details: ian@a1insurance.co.uk
Direct Dial: 01937 544784
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/iandarnbrook
Jean Pickard
Job Title: Commercial Account Executive
Brief Overview: Jean is another longtime member of the A1 ‘family’, having been here since 1996. Jean started originally working a few hours a week in our Tadcaster office (for any of those who may remember this) and moved over to the Driffield office in 1997 when the Tadcaster office closed. Jean now works three days a week and is kept very busy producing renewals, and new business quotes, for the following types of commercial insurance: Small commercials, Shops, Offices, Liability, Tradesman, Professional Indemnity and Directors & Officers. Unofficially, Jean is the designated office party planner and general organiser, keeping us all in check.
So, lets find out a wee bit more about the lady of the moment:
– Favourite song: All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey – and by her own admission her family say she does a good Hilda Ogden version! 😂
– Favourite film: Toss up between Dirty Dancing or Ghost (can you spot the connecting factor?)
– Favourite colour: Pink
– Dream car: Quote ‘Anything that goes fast!’
Likes:
– Watching motorcycling and football
– Going out for meals with family and friends
– Chocolate that is untampered with. In Jean speak this means chocolate that is not contaminated with anything other than nuts, orange or mint. Anything else is poison!
Dislikes:
– Photos of herself – we appreciate the sacrifice she has made in providing this lovely one for this feature!
– Spiders 🕷
– People talking during theatre or cinema performances
– Lots of gravy on her dinner. We know, we’ve seen the plate go back at Christmas parties! 😂
And finally, the thing Jean likes most about her job? The nice customers and friendly co-workers (we bribed her to say the last part with a nutty bar of chocolate! 😉)
Contact details: jean@a1insurance.co.uk
Direct Dial: 01937 544783
Jacqui Haslam
Job Title: Account Executive
Brief Overview: Jacqui, as she is known, is our second longest serving member of staff, having joined A1 Insurance in September 1994; she initially worked part-time as a cashier for the Nationwide Building Society agency. When a long-standing member of staff left, Jacqui also took on household insurance renewals. The Nationwide agency was terminated in January 2005, and so Jacqui began to work exclusively in insurance. Her role has evolved somewhat over the years, and her main areas of work today are Residential and Commercial Property Owners, High Net Worth and Non-Standard Household, and Small Commercial, eg offices, shops and liability.
So now you know what she does, let’s find out a little bit more about the lady herself!
Likes:
– Walks in beautiful countryside
– Ballroom and latin dancing (our resident ‘Strictly’ expert)
– Keeping fit with Pilates and the Gym
– Spending time with her family – husband, two children and two grandchildren
Dislikes:
– Mould! Almost phobic about the stuff
– Rudeness
Favourite song: If made to pick it would be ‘Thinking out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Favourite colour: Blue
Dream car: A vintage Porsche
Best thing about her job: Helping customers through the minefield known as insurance!
Contact details: jacqui@a1insurance.co.uk
Direct Dial: 01937 544782
Jeannie Louise Nettleton
Job Title: Account Executive
Brief Overview: Jeannie joined the A1 team in January 2007, wanting a new challenge after working for several years as a club stewardess. A brief foray into the world of retail was not the change she had hoped for…it seems A1 Insurance was though, as fast forward 12 years and she is still with us! Jeannie’s main role within the team has evolved over the years, and presently she is responsible for keeping finance and accounts in order, as well as looking after anything motor or household insurance related, to name but a few. It’s fair to say Jeannie is the resident office chameleon, with more haircuts and colours notched up in a month than the rest of us have managed in our combined time at A1 Insurance – this is actual fact.
And it’s fair to say that the accompanying photo will be out of date within the space of a week. 🦎
So now you know a little more about Jeannie, here are some fun facts…
Favourite Song: Afternoon Delight – Starland Vocal Band (I THINK she said this tongue in cheek)
Favourite Film: Empire Strikes Back (she is also our resident sci-fi boffin)
Favourite Colour: Green
Dream Car: Ford Capri…and taking ‘dream’ car literally, it would come with parking sensors and a roof rack. 😯
Best thing about her job? Her ‘work-family’; being part of a team she considers to be supportive, creative and inclusive, making for a positive environment in which to work. (We really didn’t bribe her to say that!)
Likes:
– Doctor Who
– Her Westie, ‘Lily Beyonce Nettleton’
– HRT patches
– Changing her haircut and/or colour on a ridiculously regular basis
– Southern Comfort with fresh orange juice when flying away on her jollies! 🤢
Dislikes:
– Prejudice
– Elitism
– Fish and chips (how is this possible??)
Contact details: jlk@a1insurance.co.uk
Direct Dial: 01937 544785
Adam Pringle
Job Title: Account Executive
Brief Overview: Probably the most notable thing about Adam is that his legs are so long they present their own trip hazard! The second most notable point is that Adam formerly worked for a well know Harrogate Insurance Broker for nearly 27 years before deciding to leave following a takeover. Adam has a reputation for excellent customer care and attention to detail working mainly with commercial clients and with a special interest in the agricultural sector.
Adam is an avid music fan with great taste…..obviously, (please read ‘dubious’). Adam is also known to prefer plain shirts (a patterned number can make Adam quite vocal) and is an All-Round Good Egg.
Contact details: adam@a1insurance.co.uk
Direct Dial: 01937 544780
