Excel + how to extract string

Excel 2013. I have got 1000 rows and I am trying to extract strings as follows :-

Column A:
Cell : A1  : ICC-->ICC - MRL&E-->TOP 100 industries             
Cell : A2  : APPS-->APPS - HCLS-->TOP 500 industries

I should write a formula so i get either the first 3 or 4 letters in column B.

Cell B1 : I should get ICC
Cell B2 : I should get APPS 

I should write a formula so i get either the first 3 or 4 letters in column C.

Cell C1 : I should get MRL&E
Cell C2 : I should get HCLS 

Formula used in B1 = LEFT(A1,3) /* Does not work when I need 4 char i.e., APPS

Formula used in C1 = MID(A1,FIND("-->",A1)+9,4) /* Does not work when I need 5 char i.e., MRL&E