Following a competitive pitch process, Tower Insurance has announced the appointment of Shine as its new strategic and creative communications agency, partnering with MBM for media planning and services.

Michelle James, chief customer officer at Tower, said that the appointment enables the insurer to transform into a company that challenges industry norms.

“With our recent results demonstrating the turnaround of our business, now is the right time to bring our challenger aspiration to life,” said James. “We will show customers that there is a better, home-grown alternative out there and we’ll drive change across the industry.”

Read more: Tower sees profitability return in H1 2019

“We were looking for the best brand and communications capability to help us deliver on our strategy. Shine and MBM demonstrated a clear understanding of what it takes to be a challenger and that they have the creative and strategic skills to get us there.”

Simon Curran, chief executive at Shine, shared his excitement at the appointment. “We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to partner with Tower and help deliver a compelling proposition to the market,” said Curran. “The business is primed for change, and we are hugely excited about the road ahead.”

“It’s brilliant for MBM to be partnering with Tower, and the opportunity to work again alongside Shine on an iconic NZ brand that has strong ambitions,” said Sean McCready, co-founder and owner of MBM. “We can’t wait to get into the work.”