NFU Mutual has announced a union of two of its Cornwall branches to provide clients with improved access and support.

Liskeard and Bodmin branch agents, Ian Maddever and Hannah Myatt-Neal, have taken on responsibility for the St Austell operation in preparation for the retirement at the end of February of agent Andrew Martin after 24 years.

Mr Maddever and Ms Myatt-Neal will be appointing a third partner and recruiting additional staff members to further strengthen their team across the two branches.

Ian Maddever became NFU Mutual’s agent in Liskeard in October 2016. He said: “I’ve worked in the agricultural sector for my entire career; from a farming family in Cornwall I built my own successful agricultural machinery business over a period of 15 years.

“This has given me great experience and knowledge of all the ups and downs of running a company and a fantastic insight into the various and often complex needs of our clients.

“Andrew’s boots will be hard to fill because he’s been an important part of the rural community in St Austell for nearly a quarter of a century. Rest-assured, I will be working hard to deliver an excellent service to our long-term clients and members, alongside growing the business.”

Hannah Myatt-Neal joined the Liskeard and Bodmin office as an apprentice in September 2007 and has climbed the ranks, first in customer service, then sales and in quality control for the south west region before joining Mr Maddever in February in 2017.

She said: “We are part of a very experienced team who have built up great relationships with our clients over a number of years and we very much look forward to maintaining a top class local service that gives access to expertise in many aspects of insurance and financial services.

“We offer a wide range of services and products for our personal insurance customers, as well as our farming and commercial clients – particularly those in hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, retail, property and estates sectors.”