Kirk Cheesman, managing director of National Credit Insurance Brokers, talks about getting rid of stamp duty, insuring various parts of sheep and cattle for culinary purposes and why being short has its advantages.
Why insurance?
Insurance broking is a fantastic industry to be in. You get involved in so many various industries; meet terrific people and partner companies to help them grow safely.
How would you sum up insurance brokers in three words?
Advisors, partners, solutions.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Love your staff and clients, and they will love you”. I couldn’t agree more.
If you were Prime Minister for one day, what would you do?
Get rid of Stamp duty and increase the GST.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever arranged cover for?
Various parts of sheep and cattle for export to Asia (for people to eat!)
What has been the highlight(s) of your career?
1. Learning about so many industries and having the ability to save a business by delivering a claim payment.
2. Starting as an office trainee in 1990, learning every facet of the business, and being given the opportunity to lead a great business like
NCI in 2008.
3. Working with my friends (NCI staff, clients and underwriters).
What’s your favoured style of coffee?
I get a cappuccino on the drive into work.
NRL, AFL, soccer or other?
Definitely AFL. I was a field umpire in the Sydney AFL for a number of years and loved running onto the SCG.
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, and excluding family and friends, who would they be and why? Rupert Murdoch – What a great successful Australian businessman, Bruce McAvaney - a “special” (South Australian) sports commentator who would have some fantastic stories to tell, Jerry Seinfeld – so we could laugh and talk about “nothing” over dinner.
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t in insurance, I would be…a jockey at Morphettvillein Adelaide. Simply because I am short enough to be one!
