The Abbott Group: Everything you need to know
Founded: 1981
Areas of expertise: 8
Offices: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Rangiora, Dunedin
Employees: 70+
The Abbott Group is an insurance brokerage offering insurance, risk and selected financial services from its eight offices across New Zealand. Its client base consists primarily of business owners and operators across both rural and urban industries, ranging from start-ups and SMEs to major industry heavyweights.
The company was founded in 1981 as a ‘one-man band’ in Christchurch, where the head office is currently situated. The Abbott Group started out offering both commercial and life and health insurance, and has since expanded into eight locations and eight different areas of expertise ranging from KiwiSaver advice, home loans and investment management, to the full range of standard insurance policies.
The Abbott Group’s broker and adviser teams assist clients with the ‘increasingly complex world of risk management,’ finding insurance solutions for individuals, families, businesses and teams.
The Abbott Group in the news
1981: Abbott Group is founded as a one-person insurance business
2014: Abbott Group sells a 25% stake in its business to SBS Bank subsidiary Southsure Assurance
2017: The Group merged with IC Frith & Associates to leverage the strengths of its broker group, Steadfast, in the New Zealand commercial insurance market
2018: Abbott Group welcomes Lee Robinson as its new chairman
Key people as of 2019
Chief Executive – Mark Reid
Mark Reid acted as General Manager of Abbott Group for just under 10 years before his appointment to the newly-created Chief Executive role in April 2019. Reid worked with Southsure Assurance in the 2014 sale of a stake in the Group’s business, and also led the business through the “challenging” period of earthquake-related claim settlement.
North Regional Manager – Kevin Wellwood
Wellwood joined the Abbott team in December 2017 as Hamilton Branch Manager, and had previously held senior roles at insurance brokerages Aon and Rothbury. He also has experience on the insurer side, having worked as a commercial sales manager with Tower for over four years before turning to broking.
South Regional Manager – Andrew Dufton
Christchurch-based Dufton was a former broker principal of Abbott Insurance Brokers, and is a current shareholder of Abbott NZ Holdings Ltd. He is well known by many longstanding Abbott clients.
General Manager of Operations – Anthony Jones
Jones leads the business support divisions at Abbott and was formerly the Managing Director of I C Frith, with whom Abbott merged in 2017.
Culture
Abbott Group supports a number of sports clubs and charitable initiatives, and regularly offers support to schools and community groups by providing its custom-built BBQ trailer for promotional and fundraising events.
Abbott Group’s key support relationships include the following.
The Gut Foundation: Abbott Group is a long-term sponsor of the Canterbury-based foundation, which helps Cantabrians achieve better gastrointestinal health through research and education. The Foundation has successfully raised funds for over 30 individual projects to improve the health outcomes for liver and digestive disease disorders.
Christchurch Football Club: The Abbott Group is a ‘gold sponsor’ of the Club, which is the oldest rugby club in New Zealand and the second oldest in the world. Since its inception, it has raised 31 All Blacks, five All Black Captains and 228 Canterbury Representative players from its membership.
Russley Golf Club: This premier golf club has hosted various tournaments throughout its history and supports golf at all levels, with the aim of introducing as many people as possible to the activity.
International Track Meet: The Meet ‘injects quality international competition’ to the New Zealand domestic season, and offers a development pathway for athletes and an opportunity for the public to see New Zealand athletes compete against some of the best athletes in the world.
