What are the main beats that you cover?

Protection and General Insurance.

What have been the highlights of your time working in financial journalism? Have there been any pieces of work you’re particularly proud of?

Building my network and speaking with industry disruptors about new products, legacy systems, and underserved demographics.

How can PRs help you with your work?  

I’m always looking for new perspectives and industry commentary that’s relevant to market trends, products, or insight.

When are the best/worst times for PRs/press offices to contact you?

Between 8am-1pm is the best time for PRs to contact me. I usually work on features in the afternoon. 

What is the one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in financial journalism?

Build your network and don’t be afraid to ask for introductions.

What is the financial interview you’d most like to arrange?

Adam Winslow (CEO of Direct Line) would be interesting to interview given that Aviva recently agreed to buy Direct Line for £3.7bn. 

What is the piece of financial services research you’d most like to read?

I’m looking into networks at the moment, so adviser-led research on working with networks, inductions and best practice would be of interest. 

When you’re telling a story, what’s the most important thing to remember?

Audience, ‘what’s your readership?’

It’s also important to consider impact; don’t write words for the sake of writing words. 

What was the last article you read that really shocked you?

Last year, David Millward wrote an article titled ‘Inside the shady world of health insurers – and the 1.2 seconds it takes them to deny claims’ for The Telegraph.

Written after the assassination of Brian Thompson (CEO of UnitedHealthcare), David discussed the “expensive complexity” of the US healthcare system, illustrating its impact through real-life stories. 

Predict the main stories that will dominate in 2025:

Loaded commission, single vs joint policies, and distributor specific pricing for networks.

Sum up your time as a financial journalist in three words:

I’m always learning.

If you were up for an award for any hobbies/activities outside of work, what would you be likely to win, and why?

Recently, I’ve been restoring furniture in my spare time so the award I’d most likely win is ‘DIY Newcomer of the Year’ - for now.

Finally, if you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I occasionally eat tortellini for breakfast – speaks volumes.