A new senior agent has been appointed to insurers NFU Mutual's Newton Abbot branch office.

Lucy Thomas, who has been working as an agent at the insurance firm’s Plymouth office, will run the Newton Abbot branch and assume the role as group secretary for the Newton Abbot and Moretonhampstead and Chagford NFU branches.

Having grown up on a dairy farm in Shropshire and completed a BSc degree in rural enterprise and land management at Harper Adams University College, Ms Thomas joined the NFU as a food and farming advisor for the south west in 2012.

The role saw her gain hands-on knowledge of landlord and tenant issues, planning, and rural development issues, while providing practical advice, support and information to farmers.

In 2014, Ms Thomas became an NFU Mutual agent at the company’s Plympton and Tavistock branch office with a key focus on commercial business and agriculture insurance. She is also the founder of the Devon Food Network which she established to promote local produce and to provide a link between businesses in the food and drink industry. Her role at the helm of the network complements her professional work.

Her new position at NFU Mutual represents a job change for Ms Thomas, who is keen to further her career aspirations with the insurer, which provides insurance for over 70% of the UK’s farmers. She will be working with her existing client base while managing a team of advisors.

Ms Thomas said: “My work with NFU Mutual has focussed on writing new insurance proposals for commercial businesses in the farming, food and drink, hospitality, retail and property sectors. I love working with a different range of businesses and supporting my customers to grow and develop by making sure their insurance needs are covered. It is great to see them flourish.”