Hi, I',m Elaine the Managing Director and Founder of Animal Friends Insurance

I’m also a lifelong animal lover and have shared my home with many “animal friends” over the years. As you’ll see I love dogs and always carry packets of Schmakos in my bag in case I meet some waggy tailed friends on my travels – which I usually do! I also have 6 cats and 2 tortoises at home.
I’ve also been riding and around horses all my life. I have my BHS Stage 1 & 2 exams and I used to love teaching at my local riding school where I started and ran the British Gas Equestrian Club. I have looked after and owned a number of horses from a New Forest pony to Danish and Dutch Warmbloods but my favourite has to be my old Cob “Smellie”.
I took him on when he had bad emphysema and I brought him back to full health with lots of tlc, he then went on to win a number of veteran events and was a real character, enjoying orangeade and Cornetto ice creams!

My greatest joy in heading our enthusiastic team here at Animal Friends is being able to help so many animal charities and meeting some wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to helping needy animals worldwide. I hope we can welcome your “animal friend” soon!

Hi, I'm Chris Fairfax the Managing Director and Founder of Animal Friends Insurance

Like Elaine I am also a lifelong animal lover – in fact Elaine and I actually met at a riding stables! As a kid all I wanted to do was to become a second David Attenborough but somehow I became a lawyer instead. After qualifying as both a Barrister and then solicitor Elaine and I set up our own law firm on the South Coast where we still did what we could for animal charities by giving free advice and helping with fund raising. That gave us a taste to do more and Elaine came up with the idea for Animal Friends which we then mortgaged everything to set up.

That was some years ago and now Animal Friends has become a big company insuring many thousands of pets and horses countrywide with the support of our fantastic team here at our Wiltshire HQ. This will mean Animal Friends will go from strength to strength, helping Elaine and I fulfil our dream to assist many more animal charities worldwide.

Over the years Elaine and I have shared our home with many kinds of animal friends from hamsters and gerbils to Henry the 8 foot Indian Python, with a mix of cats, horses and dogs in between. Currently 6 cats and 2 tortoises let us share their house!

Hi, I'm Natalie the General Manager here at Animal Friends Insurance

I have worked at Animal Friends since November 2010 where I started as Sales Manager, I was promoted to General Manager in February 2011.

My background was working in Financial Services, since I left college, where I was a supervisor under the FSA and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Insurers.  I am also qualified in Human Resources.

I love working at Animal Friends as it gives me a fresh challenge every day and combines my love of animals.  I currently have 2 cats Starsky and Hutch whom I adore and have grown up with dogs.

Hi, I'm Chris Newnham the Marketing Manager here at Animal Friends Insurance

Hey I’m Chris Newnham and I’m the Marketing Manager. I look after our websites and digital content, from apps to video production, web development and design, SEO and blogging aswell as social networking. If there’s a problem or a bug with the website I’m usually the first point of call. I like getting stuck into data and analytics about user behaviour and online marketing. You’ll often find me digging around all sorts of web code and geeky things.

Hi, I'm Ian Webber the Customer Service Manager for Animal Friends Insurance

I joined Animal Friends as the Customer Service Manager in April 2011, with a background in banking and private medical insurance. There are some fantastic people working here at Animal Friends and I’m fortunate to have a great team to work with. Growing up it was cats, hamsters and ducks that had me running around but nowadays I enjoy spending time with my two young daughters, Evie & Tilly. I’m also a keen footballer both playing and supporting West Ham United.

Hi, I'm Chantelle Crowley the Sales Manager for Animal Friends Insurance

I joined Animal Friends as the Sales Manager in March 2011, I was previously in banking and had been for nearly 11 years.

I have always been around animals from owning ducks, cats, dogs, tortoises and even a sparrow called wally.

I love working for Animal Friends and feel really proud to work for a company who gives something back to all the worthy charities they support.

Hi, I'm Wes Pearson the Claims Manager for Animal Friends Insurance

I’ve grown up around pets and particularly enjoy exercise with the family dog. I have worked in the insurance industry for 15 years and have spent the last 10 years specialising in all different types of insurance claims, including Employers Liability, Public Liability, Property, Motor, Clinical negligence and of course pet insurance. I am a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute and have achieved accreditation.

Hi, I'm Ryan Flint the Customer Liaison Officer for Animal Friends Insurance

I started at Animal Friends in August 2011. Since 2002 my working background has been in Investments and the Life & Pensions industry and I’ve been working in the complaints environment  since 2007. I enjoy working at Animal Friends because you get to be yourself and help contribute to all the worthwhile causes which we support. Outside of work I enjoy playing football and cricket and following Newcastle United football club.

Hi, I'm Tara Broughton the Accounts Manager here at Animal Friends Insurance

I come from an animal loving family and have never known life without pets.  We currently have 2 dogs, 5 cats, 1 cockerel, 2 hens and 6 chicks!

Although Cody is now 12 he still enjoys his walks mainly because he knows that at the end of it there’s always food!  Jasper is a typical Border Collie with bags of energy and just loves chasing his ball and taking part in dog agility.

The 6 chicks are home reared and we were lucky enough to actually see one of the chicks hatching.

Recently one of our cats Scampi was injured by a car and unfortunately lost one of her back legs.  During this time it was wonderful to work for a company where everyone understood how upsetting this experience was and were very supportive with advice and help.