Penny Speed meets... Kevin Betts, Airclaims' regional director Asia Pacific

What was your first ever job — and were you any good at it?
Royal Air Force aircraft technican – I was great at it

If an MP3 player really could only hold 3 tunes, what would you select for the ultimate soundtrack to your life?
Jet Airliner – Steve Miller Band, Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver, Life on Mars – David Bowie

Who was your top teenage pin-up?
I don’t recall having any but I do remember having a thing for Diana Rigg

My colleagues won’t know this about me but...
I worked as a ship’s engineer on deep sea trawlers during the Cod War

Favourite book of all time?
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it

What would be your chosen superpower?
Invisibility

If you could be Prime Minister for the day, what change would you instigate and why?
To run government on a business footing and treat all citizens as shareholders

How would a typical school report about you read?
Could do better

My top tip for climbing the insurance career ladder is...
Impress the client with high quality and timely reporting. Utilise the huge company knowledge base. Spend time culturing good relationships with the market players

What’s the most annoying thing people do in your office?
Complain

My last supper would comprise...
Claypot chicken curry and rice, a big wedge of blueberry cheesecake preceded by two pints of Tetley’s bitter and followed by a couple of stiff single malt whiskies on the rocks, water on the side

Who has been the most influential person in your life to date?
My mother

When I’m not working I like to...
Play golf, listen to music, play guitar, exercise and watch TV

Last film you saw?
Rush – I loved it

If I wasn’t working in insurance I would probably be...
A rock musician or sportsman – if only I had the talent

Name your five ideal dinner party guests (dead or alive) very briefly noting what they bring to the party
Nigella Lawson – food and beauty; Mathew Syed – brilliant and grounded;  Nigel Mansell – Rush – loved it, Jimi Hendrix – I’d like him to play my Strat left handed; and David Beckham –must be the nicest rich guy on the planet

Marmite: foods of the gods or work of the devil?
Food of the gods

Career high point to date?
Promotion to this position

What do you say when strangers at a social gathering ask what you do for a living? (Be honest now)
I tell them I’m a licenced aircraft maintenance engineer working in the insurance industry

If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
The early to mid-1960’s

Finish this sentence: Insurance is a great industry to work in because...
Aviation loss surveying is very challenging and interesting. No two cases are the same. There is lots of travel to fascinating places, and I get to meet different people and cultures while keeping in touch with my passion for aircraft and aviation

Would you like to be probed by Penny on one of her speed meets? Get in touch via Mark Sands