Insurance Business New Zealand Awards 2021

The inaugural Insurance Business Awards New Zealand were launched in October 2020, with a call to insurance professionals around the country to send in nominations. Over the following weeks, the Insurance Business NZ team was inundated with stories of strength, leadership and adaptability from insurance teams across the nation. It was heartening to see how so many members of the insurance profession rose to the challenges presented by COVID-19 and its impact in New Zealand and beyond. The winners were carefully selected by a panel of 14 expert judges, including prominent industry figureheads from organisations like Suncorp, IAG, Gallagher Bassett, AIA, Delta, Donaldson Brown, nib, Youi, the Veterinary Professional Insurance Society and Insurance Advisernet. Gold winners and excellence awardees were announced on 17 February on the Insurance Business NZ website. The leading independent awards event for the insurance profession in New Zealand, the Insurance Business Awards NZ recognise the best around the country. After such a testing year, the awards were well earned, particularly for those insurance professionals who spent the past 12 months navigating the global impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s more important than ever that, as an industry, we take the time to recognise and celebrate the fantastic personal and organisational achievements and contributions on our doorstep.

Methodology:

PROCESS

• Insurance Business NZ issued an open call for nominations to the title’s nationwide readership of insurance professionals.

• Prospective nominees sent in submissions online; IBNZ received hundreds of nominations. After a lengthy vetting process, the shortlisted candidates were invited to send additional information to be considered by the judges.

• Each award had its own judges, who cast their votes to decide on the winners. Gold winners and Excellence Award recipients for the 12 categories were announced on 17 February.

CATEGORIES

The Insurance Business Awards NZ featured 12 individual and company categories, recognising employers, teams and leaders from businesses large and small.

KEY DATES

• 19 October 2020

            Nominations opened

• 4 December 2020

            Nominations closed

• 17 February 2021

            Winners announced online

Access the Insurance Business Awards New Zealand 2021 Commemorative Guide, in which we profile select winners.
Read more

Here are the winners of Insurance Business Awards New Zealand 2021:

BROKERAGE AWARDS

Best Customer Service from an Individual Office

Winner: RIVAL Wealth
Excellence Awardee: Lifestyle Cover NZ

Brokerage of the Year (>11+ Staff)

Winner: Dawson Insurance
Excellence Awardee: Bridges Insurance Services

Brokerage of the Year (1-10 Staff)

Winner: Sherpa Insurance Brokers & Advocates

Broking Network of the Year

Winner: Insurance Advisernet New Zealand

BROKER AWARDS

Broker of the Year – Independent

Winner: Shane Gadsdon, Discovery Financial Services

Broker of the Year – Specialist

Winner: Dean Spense, Captive Insurance Solutions NZ

Young Gun of the Year - Independent

Winner: Josh Cuttance, SHARE NZ

INSURER AWARDS

Best Digital Strategy Insurer/Underwriting Agency

Winner: DUAL New Zealand
Excellence Awardees:

• nib New Zealand
• Pinnacle Life

Claims Team of the Year - Insurer/Underwriting Agency

Winner: Delta Insurance
Excellence Awardees:

• AIG Insurance New Zealand
• DUAL New Zealand
• Vero Insurance
• Zurich New Zealand

General Insurer BDM of the Year

Winner: James McNulty, FMG

Service Provider of the Year

Winner: Hello Claims New Zealand
Excellence Awardees:

• Allianz Partners
• Gallagher Bassett
• JAVLN
• NZ Roadside Assistance (NZRA)
• Smith&Smith®

New Zealand Underwriting Agency of the Year

Winner: DUAL New Zealand

Featured Winners: