Gallagher Bassett : Everything you need to know

Gallagher Bassett NZ – Everything you need to know

About Gallagher Bassett NZ
Gallagher Bassett is a global claims management specialist with offices in six countries, and in six locations across New Zealand. Its offices in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington and various locations across Australia are home to over 900 claims management experts, and Gallagher Bassett offers a suite of claims management services, consulting and technical services.

Gallagher Bassett has brought the Third Party Claims Administrator (TPA) model to New Zealand’s insurance sector, and is one of the world’s largest companies operating a TPA model.

The company has expertise across almost every area of insurance, and is prominent in the injury management, life and health and risk control space, as well as various areas of general insurance. It handles claims in relation to travel, property, motor, liability and catastrophe policies, and also works with insurance brokers, insurers, underwriters and governments to assist with claims management.

Gallagher Bassett NZ utilises its global strength and market expertise to its advantage, and is able to quickly and accurately assess a claims situation and provide a solution.

Brief history of Gallagher Bassett NZ
Gallagher Bassett started in 1962 when its founding companies, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Sterling Bassett, identified the need for a strong claims management expert to help insurers and brokers address their claims quickly, efficiently and holistically.

Today, Gallagher Bassett works with almost 5,000 organisations worldwide from across every sector, and manages claims in over 60 countries.

Leadership at Gallagher Bassett NZ

Craig Furness - Managing Director, New Zealand
Furness joined Gallagher Bassett’s New Zealand branch in Auckland in 2015, having spent over 20 years in senior roles at various financial services companies. Before joining Gallagher, he spent over eight years as CEO of Cosignia, a TPA model service which was acquired by Gallagher Bassett in 2015 to boost its operations in New Zealand, at which point Furness became the company’s New Zealand managing director. He was also a manager with Sovereign, Colonial Mutual and AXA’s Wellington offices.

Stacey Williams - Chief Client Officer
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Williams has been Gallagher Bassett’s chief client officer since June 2019. She has been with the company in various roles for over 15 years, starting out in 2005 as a learning and development manager before progressing to be a national client relationship manager, and an executive director in 2016. Prior to joining Gallagher Bassett, Williams spent time as an injury management adviser with Robert Bosch, and spent several years as a case manager with Royal and Sun Alliance.

Culture at Gallagher Bassett NZ
Gallagher Bassett is committed to being a socially responsibly company, and spends significant time promoting environmental, social and economic benefits to its local communities. It follows its Global Standards of Business Conduct, and takes local requirements and the environment into account when conducting its operations.

Gallagher Bassett was acknowledged by Ethisphere as one of the world’s most ethical companies from 2012 - 2018.

It is also the company behind Gentle Bear, an idea that came about while GB was doing work for the South Australia Police Department and was looking at ways to minimise the symptoms of PTSD in children. GB’s South Australia manager suggested sponsoring teddy bears which could be carried in emergency vehicles and given to young children involved in serious incidents such as traffic accidents and domestic violence, which could serve as an emotional aid to distract the child’s attention from the distressing situation. Since the concept’s introduction, over 2,000 Gentle Bears have been handed out across Australia, and the concept is expected to soon make its way to New Zealand.