He comes from a family of high-profile achievers; his father, Eugene Cox, is Finance Minister, his sister, Paula Cox, is now the Island's Education Minister, but Jeremy Cox - who was appointed to the newly created post of Insurance Supervisor at the beginning of the year - said there was no family pressure to follow any particular path.

Mr. Cox said: "The success of my father, sister and brother has not driven me to do what I do. We have all followed a path and the path has led us to different things.

"For my sister - I don't think I need to highlight that for you." (In addition to Ms Cox's public role as Education Minister, she also leads an active role in the private sector. A lawyer by profession, she was recently appointed as corporate counsel with ACE Limited after being employed with the Bank of Bermuda for eight years, where she had risen to the level of vice president).

Mr. Cox continued: "For my brother, he followed the path of engineering and he is now working for a major company in the US. And for me I followed the path of financial services as an accountant."

But Mr. Cox, 39, added that both his sister and brother - he is the middle child - seemed to know what career path they wanted to follow early on, while it took him a little longer.

"After Berkeley I went to Upper Canada College. And then going on from there to study engineering at McGill University," he said.

But added: "Speaking of knowing what to do, I went through a period where I was not sure what I ultimately wanted to do.

"And I left McGill and came home. Then I worked for a period of time at Trimingham Brothers.

"Eldon Trimingham was actually a very good mentor. He and I had some private chats. And my father was a great mentor. Actually he was kind of shifty because I came home one day from working at Trimingham's and on my bed was an application for Northeastern University.

"I remember him saying you can do what you wish, but we have had a couple of students get scholarships through Belco (where Mr. Cox Sr. was formerly senior vice-president) for engineering who are going to Northeastern University and I am hearing great things about the school."

Mr. Cox continued: "One of my challenges at that time was that I am more a practical, hands on type of person. I like to see things done in the real world, and how they are done in the real world as opposed to the textbook.

"Northeastern was a school that had a co-operative education programme. You went to school part of the time, and worked part of the time which was ideal for me. Going back to University, I got my business degree; a bachelor of science in finance and insurance."

But Mr. Cox said he would underscore that his parents allowed him time to figure out what I wanted to do:"My parents did a wonderful job of setting an example.

" They showed us how to live. It was an upbringing based on good, sound Christian principles; you forget yourself, and help others. And my father has demonstrated that throughout his political career, and at Belco. And my mother demonstrated that throughout her teaching career." Mr. Cox added: "I also remember when I was very young my father saying: `You know Jeremy it does not matter what you do, just do it to the best of your ability.'"

Although Mr. Cox and his siblings have each become successful professionals, he said: "There was no pressure to become professionals, that was not what it was about in our household. The message was just whatever you choose to do, give it your best."

In addition, Mr. Cox, who was Registrar of Companies prior to his appointment as Supervisor of Insurance, praised the work experience he has received from the Bermuda Government: "The Bermuda Government has provided opportunities for me from the standpoint of exposure. Through working here, I have been able to be on the ground floor when amendments were being made; when legislation was changing.

"I have had the opportunity to sit in and be part of discussions surrounding not just what is going on in the insurance industry today, but what is likely to go on in the future. I could not have a better opportunity. I really was in the right place at the right time; everything snowballed. I have been given great exposure, great experience - and it has prepared me well for what I am doing," he said.