Victoria Shaw is the new Account Director at Romero Insurance. Victoria is an experience commercial lines professional, and has overseen a variety of successful teams and projects. Victoria discusses her background and her personal motivations, as well as what inspired the switch to the Romero Group. She mentions Romero’s in-house claims team and also the new range of advanced support options now available to her and her book of clients.
Read below to learn, in Victoria’s own words, what the most enjoyable aspects of working at Romero Insurance are, as well as what makes Victoria tick outside of work.
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What is your job role at Romero Insurance?
I am an Account Director for Romero Insurance, working out of the Halifax office. My main area is working with existing corporate clients – that’s advising and servicing their insurance needs.
What is your background within the insurance sector?
I started in Insurance in 1999, having left school at 16 – which was unusual for the small private school I had attended in Huddersfield – and went straight into employment with Eastwood & Partners Ltd as a Trainee Insurance Broker. I moved around different departments, from personal lines to claims, until I found my feet in the commercial team. By 2004, I was an Account Executive and had built up my commercial book.
In 2017, I was asked to head up a team who would assess the small business sector on behalf of Eastwoods. We would look at opportunities within the sector; the different trading avenues, trading platforms, insurance products, and just generally assess the profitability of the sector.
Having found that trading in the SME sector was viable – I took on all our small business clients from the other Execs. Anything under £10,000 premium, and in return I handed over my larger clients. The new Enterprise department was formed, with a greater focus on service, which I managed. There was a team of 8 of us, and we were able to provide an exclusive level of service for those who previously would have to opted for a comparison site which invariably wouldn’t deliver on their needs.
In my opinion, SME businesses are the bedrock of a commercial broker. The SME book at Eastwoods had grown to circa £450,000 by 2023. We focussed on going above and beyond for the smaller business, and our efforts had earned us many referrals. We put greater onus on assessing client needs and providing tailored advice, leading to the natural growth of the account. I had achieved my goal and the department was in a position of strength so I decided to return to an Account Executive role.
It’s quite unusual to be with the same broker for 26 years and I’m proud of my time at Eastwoods, but I’m now ready for a new challenge with Romero Insurance.
What are the most important skills you have developed?
In my five years of managing a team that I had built, I wore many hats, daily. I’d get heavily involved in placing business and I’d go out to see clients. I think it’s important to have a varied team with a range of skills, however it’s important as the manager that you are able to step in and step up when needed.
I would manage appraisal, file audits, as well as account handling. But after five years I decided commercial lines is where I should be. My strongest skill is maintaining long term relationships, and going above and beyond for my clients.
What caused the switch to Romero Insurance?
After building up the team, I was determined to go back to commercial lines. However I wasn’t in a position after five years to say to my colleagues that I wanted my old clients back. So I had quite a depleted book. My skills are best placed in existing business, servicing clients and delivering a great level of service. When the opportunity appeared to move to Romero Insurance and be an Account Director servicing an existing book of clients, I knew it was right for me.
What do you enjoy most about working at Romero Insurance?
The level of support at Romero Insurance is fantastic. If my clients were to make a claim, I have full faith in the Claims Team to deliver an excellent level of service. There are areas that whole departments are allocated to do, which previously I would have had to do myself. The marketing team ensure all the Account Executives look good and present well to prospects. At Romero Insurance, the mentality is to give clients an expert to deal with for whichever stage of the process they are in – I will have to adapt in order to not tread on people’s toes!
I’m keen to review more of the support that’s on offer, and equally offer my support where needed.
What are you looking forward to most at Romero Insurance?
New challenges. I could have stayed at my previous broker until I retired. I was part of the furniture to be honest and enjoyed my time there, but sometimes you need to push yourself and drive yourself a bit more.
I’ve got a good 25 years before I retire! so I want to spread my wings, challenge myself, jump into the unknown. I’m looking forward to building new relationships and continue developing as an Existing Business Account Director. I’m highly motivated and am eager to grow and work on a larger scale.
What is something everyone should know about you?
I have two children, both teenagers. They keep me busy, my son Charlie is a keen cricketer so that’s pretty much our weekends in summer wrapped up! And my daughter Imogen is my clone, we’re very close. My perfect Sunday would involve walking my dog – a rescue Staffy-cross called Blue, he’s only 10 months old so a bit of a tornado at the moment – then Sunday lunch at home followed by a pint at our local.
What’s something not many people know about you?
My husband manages our local pub. It’s called The Monkey Club, and it’s a community-run member’s pub. It’s won multiple CAMRA awards. He manages the cellar and is well known in our area. I like to read, socialise with friends; I don’t have too many “hobbies”, I’m kept too busy with Blue who I have to walk three times a day! Quality-time for me means spending time with my family.
Thank you to Victoria for taking the time to discuss her role and background. We are lucky to have such a dedicated specialist within the company, and at the Halifax office.
Contact us here if you wish to learn more about our Commercial Insurance solutions or to talk to Victoria.
Grow With Romero
Insurance should be at the core of your business’s growth strategy. When working with the Romero Group, you’re getting more than just an insurance broker – you are also getting in-house Risk Management, Health & Safety and HR solutions. That’s Power Through Partnership.
