FEATURES
THE HOT LIST TIM PLANT CEO, Australian and New Zealand operations QBE Last August, Tim Plant took the reins of QBE’s Australian and New Zealand operations, bringing more than 20 years’ international insurance and reinsurance experience. 2015 was a good year for Australia’s largest global insurer. In February, group CEO John Neal announced profits for 2014 totalling $742m, a staggering $1bn turnaround from a $254m loss in 2013. Its underwriting profit was $547m, representing 60% growth on the result of the year before. The Group’s interim results for 2015 were also strong, and a Moody’s report on the Group published in December predicted QBE will see stronger profitability in 2016 and 2017 because of cost savings and the repositioning of its business. As an employer, QBE picked up two local accolades at the 2015 Australian HR Awards, including Employer of Choice for companies with over 1,000 employees and Best Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Program. What’s ahead for QBE’s local arm this year under Plant’s leadership?
INGA BEALE CEO LLOYD’S OF LONDON Highly accomplished and genuinely inspiring, Inga Beale is Lloyd’s first female CEO in its 328-year history. She began her career 34 years ago as a junior underwriter, and has spent most of that time seizing every opportunity that has come her way, even those she says have scared her. Today, Beale spends considerable time speaking to the benefits of diversity – gender and otherwise. She’s determined to ensure Lloyd’s fosters an inclusive working environment where people feel comfortable, in her words, bringing “their whole selves to work”. Last year, Lloyd’s held the inaugural Dive In Festival, a four-day celebration of the benefits of diversity for the insurance industry. Its success has meant dates have already been locked in for a second festival in 2016. Beale’s passion and determination to change the face of the London insurance market, from white male-dominated to one that’s rich in diversity, will hopefully command the attention of insurance businesses worldwide, which will then follow suit with their own diversity initiatives.
CHRIS MACKINNON General representative in Australia LLOYD’S OF LONDON His first 12 months as Lloyd’s Australian chief have been hectic. But 2016 is likely to be even bigger for Chris Mackinnon and the local office of the world’s oldest specialty insurance market. In lateMarch, Lloyd’s will be co-locating with Talbot Underwriting, Argenta and Ironshore Australia in new premises, which will feature a trading floor environment designed for face-to-face meetings between brokers and Lloyd’s syndicate underwriters. Mackinnon says the move to new premises will also facilitate more thought leadership presentations and seminars around work that Lloyd’s is undertaking, those events to be housed in Lloyd’s very own town hall space. Following the opening of the premises and observing how well the Lloyd’s community in Australia embraces the new environment will be interesting. It’s a concept that’s worked well in London for over 300 years and, more recently, has been well-received by the Lloyd’s community in Singapore. Will Lloyd’s soon find its new Australian premises similarly well-utilised?
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PETER CHAMBERLAIN Director ALLINSURE Canberra-based allinsure took out the top spot in Insurance Business’ Top 10 Brokerages of 2015, a credit to the business’ work in recent times under the leadership of founder and director, Peter Chamberlain. Chamberlain prides his team on striving for a collaborative environment where team members feel excited about coming to work and about continuing to grow both the business and themselves. On top of an impressive year of growth in new clients and revenue, allinsure has invested significantly in the local community, care of two major sporting sponsorships and support for several local charities and organisations. It’s also been involved in establishing the Brave Foundation to tackle men’s mental health, as well as the Chamberlain Foundation to provide support for mental health, education and disadvantaged families. Not only are Chamberlain and his team worth watching because of their success in achieving growth in tough times, but also because of their meaningful efforts to assist the wider community.
CRAIG PATTERSON Managing director AUSTAGENCIES In announcing AUB Group’s FY2015 results, Mark Searles said its underwriting agencies arm experienced a 29% increase in revenue, and its profit contribution before tax was 35%. AUB Group’s agency strategy involves building specialist underwriting businesses that become top-three players, if not market leaders, in chosen segments. Longitude Insurance and New Surety are two of the success stories so far in the execution of that strategy. There’s certainly innovative work being undertaken at Austagencies under Craig Patterson’s leadership. What’s in the pipeline for the year to come?
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