He majored in sea transport economics, naval architecture and marine insurance & law and it was the third of these subjects that most caught his imagination. His first job ashore was in third party hull claims — collisions, salvage, dock damage — and he then took up appointments as Insurance Manager, in turn, with two substantial shipping companies based in the City of London. He finally turned from "insurance buyer" to "insurance broker" in 1986 and accepted a directorship of marine broking at a medium-sized Lloyd's Brokers. By 1989, he had accumulated the three ingredients required to set up independently as a Marine Broker — a book of business from loyal Clients, a broad experience to provide a full service to those Clients and a good reputation in the insurance market to place the business — and so began the first incarnation of Philip Purdie Associates Ltd. [PPA].
