Adam Shefras Celebrates 25 Years with the Business

Published On : 31 Jan 2020

Pen’s High Hazardous Goods and Environmental Managing Director, Adam Shefras, celebrates 25 years with the business

With a career spanning a quarter of a century, wholly dedicated to supporting businesses operating in the hazardous goods and environmental sector, Adam Shefras has become synonymous with risk management and risk transfer across the various industries that Pen’s High Hazardous business specialises in.

Since 1995, he’s backed the interests of our clients’ businesses through support of the UK Lubricants Association, sponsored national trade body UK Spill for over 15 years and worked closely with a variety of other trade associations representing the chemicals sector — including the Chemicals Industry Association, Chemicals North West and the British Adhesive & Sealants Association — for more than a decade.

Adam was also instrumental in the introduction of automatic inclusion of access to specialist environmental spill response consultants as part of specialist insurance policies nearly 20 years ago.

Liquid fuels is another sector Adam has worked closely with. Our support for what is now Liquid Fuels UK started more than a decade ago, and Adam has been a constant supporter of the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (UKIFDA) Expo since he first turned up at the Blackpool event in 1996.

So, let’s look at some of the numbers associated with his longevity of service. Over the past 25 years, Adam and his team have:
• Renewed over 19,000 insurance policies
• Protected over 25,000 tankers, with estimated replacement values of over £3bn

But these stats only tell half the story. When our clients have needed us over the last quarter of a century, Adam and the team have been there for them. During this period, he has overseen:
• More than 18,000 claims handled on behalf of our clients — and, where we’ve provided the first response, there has not been a single prosecution under environmental legislation
• Claims payments of more than £100,000,000 to our customers – keeping the wheels of our specialist industry sectors turning and keeping our clients’ businesses trading

Steve Thornett, Managing Director of Specialty at Pen Underwriting, said: “25 years of service doesn’t come close to quantifying the contribution Adam has made to the numerous industry sectors that we support and deliver services to. Tens of thousands of claims keeping petrochemical wheels on the road and businesses from going under. Tens of millions of pounds given back to companies and thousands of potential environmental disasters and prosecutions avoided. Not to mention the numerous trade associations and governing bodies supported. Many talk a good game about adding value, giving back or being a specialist — Adam’s huge contribution speaks for itself.”