Five things you didn't know about...Malcolm Smith

Reggae reggae slice...

I spent a few years in the West Indies in my early 20's running an insurance agency and remember my most frightening experience as having to write a cheque for a motor claim at the point of a machete!

You're (not) beautiful...

During a working stint in North Wales one of my policyholders, a working men's club, asked me to judge the annual ‘beauty queen’ contest. I was relieved at being given the name of the winner in advance and not having to justify the decision to my lady wife.

Je ne parle pas francais, governer...

Despite working for a French company for almost 20 years, and owning a holiday home in France for much of that time, I am ashamed to admit that I still don’t speak a word of French.

Such an expert...

I am a member of the Expert Witness Institute and take on a handful of cases a year generally involving litigation on property insurance claims.

Booked for diving...

Probably due to the onset of a mid-life crisis, I have taken up scuba diving again. However I do walk a fine line between holidaying with my wife and diving trips, as I refuse to dive other than in tropical or sub-tropical climates.

Malcolm Smith is commercial lines director at Groupama.