Actuaries star at 2016 Insurance Industry Awards

The winners were honoured at the 5th annual ceremony in Auckland last Thursday (10 November).

For their outstanding policies, strategies and programs aimed at developing potential, AA Insurance was awarded both the inaugural Youth Development Employer of the Year and Women’s Employer of the Year.

The coveted Innovation of the Year Award was awarded to NZI for their NZI Safe Driving Rewards Program which uses telemetric data to establish behavioural benchmarks and assess insurance risk for heavy motor vehicles.

Also recognised at the Awards were three industry individuals who have shown outstanding achievement. Willis Towers Watson’s Eugene Sabitov was awarded Young Insurance Professional of the Year, David Crick of
Runacres & Associates was named Broking Professional of the Year and Jim Harris was the deserving recipient of the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing service to the industry.

Prue Willsford (pictured above), CEO of ANZIIF, said that “Despite the challenges the industry has faced over the last year in New Zealand, the individuals and businesses honoured tonight have exhibited outstanding creativity and adaptability.”

“Submissions this year to the Awards were of both a high number and quality, and these winners represent the best the industry has to offer. Their evolution and contribution does great service to the New Zealand insurance industry and its customers.”

Finity Consulting was recognised as Professional Services Firm of the Year.

“We’re delighted to be named 2016 Professional Services Firm of the Year and be recognised for our commitment to the New Zealand insurance industry,” said Scott Collings, Finity Managing Director. 

“Finity was also the proud recipient of the 2015 Professional Services Firm of the Year in Australia and is now the only actuarial firm to have won this accolade in both Australia and New Zealand.”

First time winners Frank Risk Management were awarded Small-Medium Broking Company of the year, with Rothbury Insurance Brokers taking out the Large Broking Company of the Year category for the third year in a row.

Direct General Insurance Company of the year was won by FMG and Intermediated Insurance Company of the Year was taken out once more by twice-previous winner Vero. Life Insurance Company of the Year went to AMP Financial Services NZ.

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry was awarded to JB Hi-Fi following their success in the category in the Australian Insurance Industry Awards earlier in the year.

The full list of winners is:

Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year

Frank Risk Management

Large Broking Company of the Year

Rothbury insurance Brokers

Direct General Insurance Company of the Year

FMG

Intermediated Insurance Company of the Year

Vero Insurance

Life Insurance Company of the Year

AMP Financial Services NZ

Innovation of the Year

NZI

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry

JB Hi-Fi

Professional Services Firm of the Year

Finity Consulting

Youth Development Employer of the Year

AA Insurance

Women’s Employer of the Year

AA Insurance

Young Insurance Professional of the Year

Eugene Sabitov, Willis Towers Watson

Broking Professional of the Year

David Crick, Runacres & Associates Ltd

ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim Harris

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