South West rural insurance company Cornish Mutual has appointed a new member to its Devon team.

Phill Hatfield has joined the Company’s field force located through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset and providing on-the-ground support to agricultural business and rural communities.

The appointment comes as the company expands its operations in Devon, with the recent opening of a new office near Willand, Tiverton.

Phill, a 32 year old economics graduate from Ivybridge, South Devon, joins Cornish Mutual having worked at Rightmove and Westland Horticulture as a national account manager.

Phill said he was excited by the prospect of building a career with a company which holds strong values and a mutual ethos.

He said: “The mutuality and customer service-led approach that Cornish Mutual has really appealed to me. And having grown up in Devon I am excited by the opportunity to be working closely with Members in the local community.”

Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, said: “We welcome Phill to Cornish Mutual. As a mutual company, we exist to support and serve our Members. A key element of that commitment is having excellent people, based locally across the South West, who understand the area they work in and are a face-to-face contact for Members.”

Cornish Mutual has more than 24,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, and is the only general insurer based in the South West offering insurance to farms, businesses and individuals.