It was in 1974 that John Whitta (pictured), then only 20 years old, entered the world of insurance via National Insurance, which came to be known as Tower in the late 1980s. Here the five-decade industry veteran looks back at his ‘unintentional’ lifelong career with the Kiwi insurer.
An aspiring scientist at the time, Whitta shared how a job-related explosion pushed him away from a life centred on manufacturing resins and glues for pulp and paper mills in New Zealand. After joining National Insurance as a domestic claims clerk, Whitta has progressed through various roles leading to his current capacity as product manager at Tower.
Recalling his beginnings, Whitta told Insurance Business: “Working as a domestic claims clerk, I was part of a team of four at our Wellington branch. I had to learn on the job about all the different policy wordings. I quickly understood that no two claims are the same.
“I had no initial intentions for this to be a lifelong job but I loved it, so I stayed. Just like claims, no day is ever the same.”
Whitta’s credentials include time spent as a sales inspector, chief inspector, branch manager for different branches, and quality assurance leader. As product manager, he was involved in the streamlining of Tower’s portfolio in 2019 – an initiative that brought the company’s products down from more than 100 to a core suite of 12.
“The product team creates the policy wordings and manages the product lifecycle, so the work is central to everything the business does from sales to claims,” highlighted Whitta, who has also supported Tower’s growth beyond NZ by helping align Pacific and New Zealand policies. “We play an interesting role in the business that I enjoy being a part of.”
For Tower chief underwriting officer Ron Mudaliar, Whitta’s journey is a testament to the diverse options that an insurance career can provide.
“John is well-liked and respected by all at Tower as he is very values-based and brings a lot of fun to the work environment,” Mudaliar said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and is a huge asset to the Tower group.”
So, what’s Whitta’s advice for industry newcomers? For the insurance stalwart, it’s crucial to adapt to new ways of working, having witnessed first-hand the sector’s evolution over the years.
“My advice to younger generations or those just starting out in insurance is, give it a go, give it time, get involved, and be curious,” he told Insurance Business. “Most importantly, while challenging yourself, stay true to yourself and align with your own values.”
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