NTI is a specialist insurance provider offering a wide range of products and assistance services for the transport and logistics industries, including heavy commercial motor, mobile plant & equipment, and marine insurance.
The company began business in 1971 as R&G Insurance Consultants, an independently owned general insurance brokerage that provided coverage to carriers through local and international insurers. Until the 1980s, the firm worked closely with Lloyd’s brokers as their Australian representatives.
In 1986, National Transport Insurance Limited (NTI) was formed with local insurers AMP, Sun Alliance, General Accident and QBE as equal joint shareholders. This allowed the company to expand further across Australia.
NTI underwent several changes in structure and ownership, and today, it is a joint venture between IAG’s CGU and Suncorp’s Vero, two of Australia’s largest general insurers.
In 2015, NTI acquired heavy motor and mobile plant and equipment portfolios from Lumley Insurance, which led to the creation of the Yellow Cover brand. In 2017, IAG and Vero agreed to form a marine insurance specialist arm, known as Marine Protect. In that same year, NTI launched its first retail brand, Truck Assist. This offers truck insurance and roadside assistance services which can be purchased online.
Key people as of 2019
Tony Clark, CEO
Clark has been chief executive of NTI since 2007. Prior to that, he was general manager for insurance operations at NTI. He joined NTI in 2001 as national operations manager – claims. Earlier in his career, he worked for Fortis Insurance and RACV Insurance. Clark holds Master of business administration and Master of advanced business practice degrees, and has completed post graduate studies in strategic leadership and strategic marketing.
Christopher Hogarty, chief sustainability officer
Hogarty is the first holder of the post, which was created in July 2019. He is responsible for developing strategies to achieve NTI’s stated purpose – “to keep Australian industry moving towards a safer and more sustainable future.” He joined NTI in 2006 and was chief customer officer prior to his latest appointment.
Nick Dendrinos, head of motor portfolio
Dendrinos has over 30 years of motor insurance experience, He joined NTI in 2019 after almost 13 years with Zurich Financial Services Australia, where he was most recently head of motor for Australia and New Zealand.
Michael Edmonds, general manager – commercial
Edmonds has been with NTI for almost 19 years. As general manager for commercial, he is responsible for leading national and local distribution to policyholders via brokers and agents, as well as managing key accounts and industry associations. He is a fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and a senior associate of ANZIIF.
Culture
NTI has shown its commitment to sustainable development, with the creation of its sustainability team, headed by chief sustainability officer Chris Hogarty. According to CEO Tony Clark, the team will work to deliver on the company’s promise to “keep the Australian industry moving towards a safer and more sustainable future.” The team is behind NTI’s partnership with Seeing Machines, a company that uses advanced computer vision technology to develop driver-monitoring systems that help detect and prevent fatigue- and distraction-related driver events.
Since 2017, NTI has sponsored the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, a group that delivers donated hay to drought-affected farmers in Australia.
In honour of its former CEO, Wayne Patterson, who succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease in 2018, NTI has launched a memorial research grant. The first recipient was University of Queensland’s Trent Woodruff, who is researching on manipulating free fatty acid receptors in order to tame the immune response in Motor Neurone Disease.
In support of the memorial research grant, NTI has launched a truck restoration project, where a vintage truck is restored to the highest standards before being raffled off. The proceeds of the raffle will be donated to the memorial grant. In May 2019, Michelle Wilkie of Munruben, QLD won the restored truck for helping raise a total of $113,087 for Motor Neurone Disease medical research.
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