Charlotte Kirk - CEO of ITIC Europe & Commercial Director of ITIC

How long have you worked at ITIC?

My ITIC career started 36 years ago in 1988, when I was a claims handler at CISBACLUB. I left to work in Cyprus at what is now Marsh. I then started at ITIC just after the merger between CISBACLUB and TIM 30 years ago. The team at ITIC are great to work with, we have a brilliant insurance product and some really interesting members, many of whom have been insured with us for so long that it seems that they are very much part of the ITIC family. I am now delighted to be CEO of ITIC Europe.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

The last 15 or so months have been so exciting and a really steep learning curve as CEO of ITIC Europe. We have employed a great team of Cypriots – from one person in October 2023 to the current team of four. We have also moved offices, with UKDC, to larger premises. The icing on the cake has been this month, December 2024, 10 months after we started underwriting in ITIC Europe, to transferring all the remaining EU policies to ITIC Europe.  The move of our EU business to Cyprus has been made easier by the incredible support we have had from the team at UKDC and from the wider marine cluster in Cyprus, including the other mutuals based there, the insurance broking community, the Ministry for Shipping and the maritime lawyers.

What is your favourite saying?

“Let’s go!” (usually talking to myself to get something done)

What are your hobbies and favourite pastimes?

I read a lot (as I am on the plane at least twice a month to/from Cyprus) and I love a good walk along a beach, flying my kite.

What is your favourite film?

I’m rubbish at watching films and don’t tend to have any firm favourites, although I’ll always watch “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and annoy my family by singing along. My dad took my brother and I to see it one Christmas Eve, whilst (I assume) my mum wrapped presents. The whole outing must have backfired as spectacularly as the car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as we were both awake all night with nightmares about the child catcher (sorry to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn’t seen it).

What is the last book you read or music you downloaded?

The Wager by David Grann – a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder - it was a gripping yarn and I’d recommend it to anyone, as long as you like ships and the sea.

Any pet hates?

Probably too many to list out, but currently the saying “let me reach out” – yuk!

What is your favourite place in the world?

Being by the water or on a boat of some variety. I grew up living 100m away from the Bristol Channel watching the ships coming into Avonmouth, helping with the local rescue service (which has now been adopted by the RNLI) and doing lots of dinghy sailing with my dad, which I loved. I now co-own a traditional Thames Waterman’s cutter, which I enjoy rowing at the weekends.

If you weren’t working at ITIC, what would you be doing?

Who would want to work anywhere else?! Although, while at school I had a summer holiday job working in a sail loft making sails for mainly traditional craft, such as Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters. Often the sails were so big that we had to make them in 2 parts and wouldn’t actually get to see the finished product until we took them to the boat – quite a scary moment. I enjoyed it all, particularly the hand sewing of the reefing points and clews. So, maybe I’d still be there!