First senior appointment for NZ broker network
In its first senior appointment,
Steadfast NZ has announced Tony Philpott as its new technical manager.
Philpott was previously property underwriting manager with
Lumley and then senior underwriter – property within the wider
IAG following
Lumley’s integration with
NZI and is well known to the local market.
CEO of Steadfast NZ,
Bruce Oughton, said the appointment marked a major step in the progression of Steadfast in New Zealand with Philpott’s experience providing strong support to the network.
Oughton said Philpott’s first priority in the position will be to finalise Steadfast’s agreed wordings with its insurer partners. His other responsibilities will include providing support to the company’s network of brokers with technical issues, assisting in training and help with broker documentation.
NZI names new national manager - commercial motor
Ian Taylor has been appointed national manager – commercial motor with NZI.
The appointment of Taylor, whose previous role was as commercial motor vehicle centre of excellence manager for Lumley, continues the integration of NZI and Lumley as one company.
Stephen Everett, NZI’s general manager commercial underwriting, said Taylor had a huge amount of experience and was well respected in the industry and would be well placed to lead the implementation of the combined businesses’ commercial motor vehicle strategy.
Insurer eyes up Aussie acquisition
Evidence supporting rumours that New Zealand insurer
CBL Insurance Group was exploring an Australian acquisition as part of a wider $120 million dual listing grew this week after reports surfaced in the
Australian Financial Review.
It was expected that the Australian acquisition would underpin CBL’s float plans, which include both an Australian and New Zealand listing.
Insurance Business reported last month how CBL had appointed investment banking group UBS and corporate advisory firm Bancorp Corporate Finance to assess its options after reporting $242 million premium income for the year to December and a $36 million profit.
An industry insider said then the IPO was likely to be in the first half of this year.
Broker thrilled with parent company’s Forbes rating
Crombie Lockwood has expressed delight that parent company Arthur J
Gallagher was the only insurance broker to make Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s Top 500 Best Employers.
The US business magazine surveyed more than 20,000 employees working for large firms across the country in 25 different industry sectors to establish its inaugural America’s Top 500 Employers.
The employees were asked questions through anonymous online access panels which focused on six categories: atmosphere at work and potential for development; image; working conditions; salary/wage; workplace and diversity.
AJG ranked 7
th best amongst insurance industry employers (179
th overall) and was the only insurance broker to make the list.
Crombie Lockwood CEO Carl O’Shea said the result reinforced the alignment of cultures between the two companies.
“This recognition of the company by employees is testament to the Gallagher culture and the kind of employer ethos that has also seen them recently recognised for the fourth time as a World’s Most Ethical Company,” O’Shea said.
“’The Gallagher Way’, which is the foundation document of the group’s culture, relates very closely to our own Crombie Lockwood DNA. Indeed, President of Arthur J Gallagher International, Tom Gallagher, drew attention to the similarities between the two companies in front of 1800 attendees at their global conference last month.”
