Chief has instinctive feeling for people and desire for good life
By Emma Bache
In the latest in our continuing series our resident graphologist delivers her opinion on Mike Williams, chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association.
Life and career of Mike Williams
Mike Williams, 51, worked for the world’s three largest insurance brokers before becoming chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba). He has represented the interests of Biba’s 2,500 members in high-level talks with government departments, the Treasury, and the Financial Services Authority for eight years.
He was born in Texas, US, but his parents immigrated to the UK when he was three, and he grew up in Manchester. In 25 years as a broker, he worked for Stenhouse, later to become Aon; Stewart Wrightson, which was bought up by Willis; and Sedgwick, subsumed by Marsh. Headhunted to lead Biba, he said: “It’s been tremendous fun and tremendous hard work, but it’s paid dividends, for both me and Biba.
“Trade associations aren’t the sexiest things, and eight years ago it was like the Civil Service, but we’ve rebuilt it, and have a focused, committed team of people.”
“WHEN first glancing at this handwriting, one’s eye is immediately drawn to the hugely inflated lower zone loops. It would be all too easy to get sidetracked by the writer's burgeoning sensuality as they themselves so often are.
Despite the irregularity and visual disturbances, there is a relatively consistent vertical slant which shows that the writer has a struggle between their mental clarity and their emotional confusion. They certainly view themselves as independent and can, at times, display self-interest and unpredictability, but usually diplomatically and charmingly. The garlanded and thread connections show an open, optimistic mind and a conciliatory nature. However the writer has certain traits that could prove more self-destructive. The fluctuation between ornamentation and neglect, and the arhythmic quality hints at inner disorganisation, but also a tendency to waver between impulsiveness and indecision. Despite this inconsistency there is a love of the unusual or unconventional in life and a failure to attract these can result in personal dissatisfaction and boredom.
There is relatively heavy pressure even in the horizontal zone, which implies good physical energy levels and a strong streak of perseverance. The horizontal pressure also implies an instinct for security and more than an element of nervous stress. The dominant and entangled thicket of a lower zone suggests that the writer can be dominated by a strong physical and materialistic drive. There is both creativity and a desire for expression in these areas.
However, this strongly passionate nature is one that endows the writer with an instinctive feeling for people and a healthy desire for the good things in life, which certainly includes financial security.
The upper zone sees some retracing of strokes and fuller loops on the “d”s. The writer will occasionally feel under pressure, or even off-key, in the intellectual sphere and they, accordingly, are prone to keeping some sense of secrecy when planning.
The gentle concavity of the lines bears out the need for help in completing tasks of a practical nature.
The fact is that they are immensely hard- working but their willpower can wear them out and their reluctance to plan too far ahead could create the need for much assistance from administrative staff, whatever their desire for autonomy may suggest. The narrow margins indicate the writer's desire for total expression and a sincere and deep interest in others.
The long “t” bars show a protective and affectionate nature and the wide “e” and “a” loops — a verbose communicator with a sense of humour and an infectious vivacity. It should be noted that the capital letters are often of scant difference to the normal letters, which implies a self-effacing personality and one that is more self-conscious than their outgoing personality may suggest.
It may be that this individual is in danger of hiding their more sensitive and deeply emotional nature under a more obvious, or crowd-pleasing, façade. Physically and mentally active, they nevertheless are the first to extend a sympathetic ear to others and an infinite appetite for life.”