Penny Black's Insurance Week - 17 July 2014

She also shared a dinner table with the self-professed “José Mourinho of the insurance industry”, DAS Ireland chief executive Adrienne O’Sullivan. Over a wonderful meal, it emerged DAS parent group Munich Re recently ran its latest staff ‘world cup’, with O’Sullivan player-manager for the Irish defending champions. Surely with such a pedigree, they would romp to victory again? Alas, they were devastatingly knocked out in the semi-finals by Dutch competition. Penny suggests channelling Rafael Benítez next time around. Later that night, Penny was desperately trying to gain entrance to another evening (or rather early morning) venue alongside BIA Achievement award-winner and Ageas group chief operating officer Barry Smith. The prospects looked grim – with the queue around the block – until Smith was spotted by some of his many admirers, who instantly began a chant of “Barry! Barry! Barry!”. With door staff immediately aware of the gravitas of the Ageas boss, Barry (and a coattail-clinging Penny) gained rapid entry to continue in their celebrations.

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This article was published in the 17 July edition of Post magazine.