Stefan Feldmann (pictured), a known figure in the Australian insurance industry – having led HDI Global SE there for more than a decade – is bringing his leadership and expertise to the Kiwi market following a restructuring.
The change comes as a result of HDI Global Specialty’s integration into HDI Global worldwide. The HDI Global Specialty unit in New Zealand, previously headed by Mark Fleiser (who also led HDI Global Specialty in Australia), is now part of HDI Global under Feldmann’s oversight in his new capacity as overall managing director of HDI Global Australia & New Zealand.
A previously separate entity, HDI Global Specialty was originally a specialty lines joint venture between sister companies Hannover Re and HDI Global. It became fully owned by HDI Global at the end of 2021. The full ownership has seen management changes across the globe, including Feldmann’s additional jurisdiction and Fleiser’s departure.
With the new NZ leader in place, Insurance Business asked Feldmann about his plans for the Kiwi operations and what lessons he thinks might be applicable.
“With my new role expanding my responsibilities from commercial to now also overseeing our specialty business in Australia and New Zealand, HDI is combining the strength of our business which will further allow us to deliver tailored solutions for the NZ market,” Feldmann said.
“In 2021, HDI secured a license for our specialty line of business, and now we have recently opened an office in Auckland with the appointment of a local colleague with local decision-making authority. This supports our aim to be closer to our valued partner brokers and clients.
“We have developed strong relationships with the NZ brokers as we already participate in complex insurance programmes, mainly in the large corporate space in New Zealand. Our local presence in Auckland allows HDI to go to market and create new opportunities with a long-term strategic view, foster local connections, and contribute to the vibrant landscape of New Zealand.”
A priority for the business, the German native said, is being a “relationship insurer” with strong technical expertise and claims excellence.
“As a global organisation, culture is strategy set at a board level, and this supports our growth by having great people, being a great place to work and great partner to do business with,” he said. “We now have a local presence in New Zealand with Richard Upton, head of financial lines who brings 20 years’ experience and a strong network in the market.
“Along with local decision-making authority, he is well supported by our team here in Australia who visit often, and can also draw from our global network of experts in over 175 countries to help us reach our growth aspirations in NZ.”
Read more: HDI appoints leader for NZ
According to Feldmann, companies in New Zealand have developed strong risk mitigation strategies. He said working closer with the Australian market, which has similar exposure to natural disasters, is an opportunity to continue learning from each other’s experiences in managing risks.
“My new role is an alignment of HDI’s commercial and specialty operations, including New Zealand. This will support our aim to bring a unified value proposition across both businesses to the Australia and New Zealand markets and across the APAC region,” Feldmann said.
“We are well set up in NZ now with Richard and considering additional underwriting resources. I will certainly also spend more time in NZ to bring more focus to this important part of our region. We understand that New Zealand is its own market with its own nuances that we are excited to grow with.”
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