At NFU Mutual we pride ourselves on our progressive mindset and forward way of thinking which coupled with the hard work and dedication of our employees leads to our company’s success even in difficult and different times. Whilst we all adapted to a new way of working and communicating last year, we never stopped looking ahead and we continued to welcome like-minded professionals to our teams. Our Pricing Department was joined by Ade Harrison as Head of Pricing Development and we spoke with him to find out more about his experience with us so far.

When did you join NFU Mutual and what attracted you to the company?
I joined the Mutual in June 2020, six months already, where has the time gone. I was attracted to NFUM due to the way it treats its customers, in pricing specifically it is very rare not to be tasked to achieve the most amount of profit possible from the customer base – a fact not lost on the regulator. I might be old fashioned in my view that insurance should be about pooling the resources of the many to mitigate the losses of the few, the values of NFUM align to my own values in that sense.

How did it feel joining a new company during lockdown and how did you find our remote on-boarding process?
It wasn’t easy, I am a social creature and have really missed being in an office. Although I have had plenty of support and help from my new colleagues. Remote onboarding was different, but I had no problems and feel part very much of the Mutual.

What does your role look like and where does it sit within the rest of the Pricing function?
I have a dual responsibility, firstly to our transformation programme as Pricing Lead and I have teams that work on data and pricing within the programme. I am also responsible for the Design and Deployment and Implementation teams that build and manage our rating algorithms within pricing. I also look after the Pricing business readiness function that helps with all things pricing and wider communication of our activities, both internally and externally.

What have you been most proud of since joining NFU Mutual?
Going to sound cliched but I am most proud of the team I have, an eclectic mix of the most talented group of people I have managed at any organisation. There is no better feeling than having a great team to support me with the challenges ahead.

And what has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since joining us?
Stakeholder management in a remote world, not being able to just pop over to someone’s desk and have a conversation. Hopefully the world will be back to normal soon!

What attracted you to a career in pricing?
It wasn’t always intentional, but something I have always enjoyed. I am one of those lucky people who loves what I do for a living. Pricing is a field where you can make a real difference and that difference can always be measured. The better and more accurate we become we improve the experience for all our customers, and it is a job where no two days are the same.

What do you see as the best part of your job?
Making a material difference, being able to push the boundaries in technical sophistication. There are not many roles where you can confidently say ‘we are improving the way we do things’ on a regular basis.

What’s your go-to productivity hack?
I have two. Firstly, recognising when you need to take time out, critical whilst we are all working from home too. Productivity is not about working hard all the time; the reality is knowing when you are not a 100% and doing the right things for yourself when you are not. Getting out for a daily walk, sounds simple but allowing your brain to have 20 minutes off, and getting some fresh air is important to me.

How do you see the Pricing department developing in the next few years?
Pricing was always important and will play a vital role in making our products easier to buy, easier to sell and easier to manage. In a climate of enhanced regulation, we need to be pricing better than the market and NFUM has all the tools and people capability to do just that.

If you had to pick one age to be permanently, which age would you choose and why?
29 – Man United’s treble winning season.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Andrew Marr – Let me at those politicians!

If you could choose any superpower, what would it be?
The ability to stop time.

We are delighted to have Ade on board and wish him a long and prosperous career with NFU Mutual! Our Pricing department delivered excellent results last year whilst also adapting to a new way of working and we look forward to their new successes and achievements in 2021.

Take a look at our current pricing opportunities.