Category: Media Release

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the care, community, education, faith and heritage sectors today announced that Vito Giudice has been appointed to the position of Chief Risk Officer.  Further new appointments for the firm see Diana Borgmeyer taking on the role of Head of Client Risk Solutions and Helen Auricht appointed to the role of State Manager for South Australia.

Vito Giudice

In his new role Giudice will be responsible for driving and continuing to implement Ansvar’s risk management strategy and practices across the business.  This includes advising the Executive and the Risk and Compliance Committee on risk issues, overseeing Ansvar’s Risk Management and Compliance department and working with the business units to meet strategic goals and objectives.

Giudice joined Ansvar in 2014 and was Risk and Compliance Manager until this recent appointment.  Guidice’s career has focused on the provision of risk management and compliance services to the financial services industry including general insurance.  Prior to joining Ansvar, Giudice held a senior financial services position at Ernst & Young in Melbourne where he provided risk and compliance advisory services to a range of domestic and international banks and insurers.  Giudice has a Master of Business (Risk Management) and a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) at Monash University in Melbourne.

“I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Chief Risk Officer and bringing my experience in risk and compliance to Ansvar,” said Giudice.

“Vito only joined Ansvar 6 months ago as Risk and Compliance Manager and in a short time has demonstrated his vast knowledge of risk management and mitigation to the Ansvar team.   We are absolutely delighted to recognise Vito’s contributions with this well-deserved promotion,” said Warren Hutcheon, CEO Ansvar Insurance.

Diana Borgmeyer

Borgmeyer will be responsible for developing risk solutions with our partners and clients that address the risks in the core sectors that Ansvar operates in.   Borgmeyer has specialised in the social policy space, dealing with complex risk issues faced by organisations that operate in the care, community, education, faith and heritage sectors.

Prior to joining Ansvar, Borgmeyer was the Senior Risk Consultant at Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and previously held the positions Manager Service Delivery Compliance and Risk Manager for the state government of Victoria.   Borgmeyer also spent several years at Konica Minolta where she held the positions of Victorian Business Manager, National Financial Operations Manager and National Manager Corporate Governance and Risk.

“I am excited to be joining Ansvar and work with their diverse range of clients and broker partners,” said Borgmeyer.

“Diana’s unique experience across risk, governance and compliance make her an invaluable new addition to the Ansvar team.  Her focus in the social policy space is a particularly good fit with the clients and the sectors we service” said Hutcheon.

 

Helen Auricht

With her promotion to State Manager, SA/NT, Auricht will continue her focus on strengthening the key relationships in both markets to ensure continued growth of the states’ portfolio.  Following a great start to the year, Auricht will continue to build on this success and ensure Ansvar will remain the insurer of choice for its clients and brokers.

Before joining Ansvar, Auricht held the position of Business Development Manager at Guardian Insurance Brokers and Account Executive at Aon Risk Services.  Following 7 years with Bank SA, Auricht joined the Insurance industry in 1996. She held roles at Swann and Catholic Church Insurance before moving into broking in 2001 where she developed a keen interest in Care and Not for Profit sectors. Auricht holds a Diploma of Financial Services (Insurance Broking) and a Diploma of Management from Deakin University in Melbourne.

“Helen’s skill and experience as well as her passion for the Care and Not for Profit sectors, make her the perfect choice to help drive Ansvar’s business goals in South Australia and the Northern Territory,” said Hutcheon.

“I have such a strong passion for these sectors, and this role will allow me to bring the most robust solutions to those operating within the Not for Profit and Care sectors in South Australia and the Northern Territory,” said Auricht.

Series of Refreshed Products Announced

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the Care, Community, Education, Faith and Heritage sectors has refreshed its Professional Indemnity and Management Liability Insurance Policies. These refreshed policies are the beginning of a broader portfolio overhaul which reflects Ansvar’s commitment to continually evolve its product offerings. Ansvar continues to retain its position as a progressive insurance provider by responding to an ever changing market.

Ansvar’s Management Liability Insurance Policy offers the following benefits:

• 8 separate Insuring Clauses
• Market leading capacity up to $25m Limit of Liability any one claim and $50m Aggregate Limit of Liability
• Each Insuring Clause has its own Limit of Liability and an Aggregate Limit of Liability subject to overall Aggregate Policy Limit
• Large number of automatic extensions offering a wide range of protection
• Capacity to provide unlimited retroactive cover
• Suitable for all organisations in our core segments and no limit on the organisations turnover

The Management Liability Policy includes 20 new automatic extensions including cover for Data reproduction expenses, Identity fraud expenses, Public relations expenses, employee and third party fidelity, and Fidelity investigation expenses. The policy compliments Ansvar’s suite of products and when taken out in conjunction with Ansvar’s property cover provides clients with comprehensive protection.

The Professional Indemnity Policy has also been updated to a civil liability wording and incorporates new automatic extensions such as cover for:

• Consultants, subcontractors and agents,
• Court attendance costs,
• Public relations expenses,
• Emergency defence costs
• Privacy breach response costs

Ansvar Professional Indemnity Policy offers market leading capacity up to $25m Limit of Liability any one claim and $50m Aggregate Limit of Liability and legal costs are paid in addition to the limit of liability.

“We listened to broker and client feedback when reviewing the policies. Both the Management Liability and Professional Indemnity policies now offer significantly enhanced coverage. We have also taken the opportunity to make these products available to all our customers by removing the minimum turnover requirement” says Richard Wyatt, Ansvar’s Chief Underwriting Officer.

“Ansvar Insurance understands the unique and ever-changing needs and requirements of directors and boards of management in our core sectors; care, community service; education, faith and heritage.  It is in response to these changing needs that we have updated our Management Liability and Professional Indemnity policies, to offer our clients a relevant comprehensive policy and peace of mind,” says Warren Hutcheon, CEO Ansvar Insurance.

You can view the new policies here

MEDIA RELEASE

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the care, community, education, faith and heritage sectors today announced that Simon Munday has been appointed to the position of CFO.  In this role Munday will be responsible for all aspects of financial management with particular focus on partnering with the commercial areas of the business to improve the quality of management information and drive improved performance. Simon replaces former CFO Deirdre Blythe.

Munday had been acting CFO on two occasions, once in 2014 and most recently since March and held the position of Financial Controller at Ansvar for the past two years.  Prior to joining Ansvar, Munday held senior financial positions at Ernst & Young both in Australia and the United Kingdom.

“I am very excited about taking on the role of CFO and working with our CEO, Warren Hutcheon and the executive team to deliver Ansvar’s strategy and strengthen the company’s position as a leader in its specialist sectors,” says Munday.

“Simon is well qualified for the role and brings a depth of knowledge and experience of the Ansvar Business to the fore.  Further, we are delighted to promote from within as this demonstrates the calibre of our current team.  Simon’s experience in the market is a tribute to his hard work and commitment to the role when he was previously acting CFO.  The board and I congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment,” said Warren Hutcheon, CEO Ansvar Insurance.

Ansvar has also appointed  David Lubbe to the role of Risk Solutions Advisor covering West Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.  In this role Lubbe will be responsible for providing a professional risk management service to both clients and brokers across the three territories.

Prior to joining Ansvar, Lubbe worked within the enterprise risk management team at RAC Insurance in Perth.  Lubbe also has several years’ experience as a risk surveyor in South Africa where he gained practical experience across a broad spectrum of industries including, petro-chemical, gas production and extensive experience in engineering.

“I am looking forward to working with our customers to help them identify and manage their risk.  As part of my new role, I will be developing tailored risk solutions which will offer value to our customers and protect their business from potential losses. I am thrilled to be part of the Ansvar team,” said Lubbe.

“We are excited David has joined the Ansvar team.  His past experience as a risk surveyor, at the international level, has given David the skills to conduct assessments of various sites as well as develop innovative ways to mitigate risk across a wide range of business,” said Warren Hutcheon, CEO of Ansvar Insurance.

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the Community, Care, Education, Faith and Heritage sectors, has posted its best results since 2008 with a profit before tax of $11.6 million.  In addition A.M. Best Asia-Pacific Limited has affirmed its financial strength and issuer rating of A- (excellent).  The outlook for both ratings is stable.

CEO Warren Hutcheon said “We are pleased with our recent financial results and A.M. Best ratings. It demonstrates the efficiency of our new operating model and that our key strategic projects are working.”

The key drivers of the improved outcomes included Ansvar’s new property reinsurance arrangements, the strength of its balance sheet, improved underwriting results, reductions in operating expenses and strong investment returns.  The investment performance was a key driver of the profit after tax of $7.3 million and the pre-tax return on capital of 15.5%.

Ansvar also delivered an underlying underwriting profit after excluding discount rate movements relating to reductions in market interest rates.  These discount rate movements were more than offset by corresponding market gains in the investment portfolio.

“More pertinently, Ansvar’s renewal rate in this period exceeded 90% which was an impressive result in a very competitive market and demonstrates Ansvar’s strong relationships with its broker partners and customers. It is very rewarding to see our company sustain its position as one of the most trusted insurers in the core sectors of Community, Care, Education, Faith and Heritage,” said Warren.

 

About Ansvar Insurance

Ansvar is a leading specialist commercial and consultative insurer offering tailored insurance products and services to the Care, Community Service (including Not-for-Profit), Education, Faith and Heritage sectors.  With more than 50 years of experience in the Australian insurance industry Ansvar has developed a deep understanding of its clients’ needs, and the risks and challenges they face, as well as the environments in which they operate.

Ansvar is a subsidiary of Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc (Ecclesiastical) which was established in the UK in 1887. Ecclesiastical is owned by a charity and all available profits are distributed for the benefit of the church and the community.

MEDIA RELEASE

Melbourne, 11 February, 2015 – Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the care, community, education, faith and heritage sectors, today announced that the International Network of Churches (INC) has renewed its national insurance contract. Previously known as the Christian Outreach Church, this contract represents one of Ansvar’s leading faith accounts.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that INC has chosen Ansvar for the majority of their insurance needs. The INC facilitates numerous key programs such as Global Care, a social justice and disaster relief program, and ‘Red Frogs’, the iconic chaplaincy and support network all of which are covered by Ansvar’s specialist insurance solutions.

“The longevity of the partnership between Ansvar and INC is important to us. Ansvar adds genuine value to our organisation with their accumulated years of knowledge of the faith sector and clearly understand the granularity and nuances of our needs. Our partnership with Ansvar goes beyond the dollar value of the contract; their value proposition is unmatched in this sector,” said Michael Farbridge, Liaison Officer, INC.

Michael Farbridge noted the direct relationship with Ansvar has been very positive.  “We needed someone that understood not only us, but also our key partners. In particular, the Red Frogs program is an integral element to the contract. Red Frogs provides direct relief from alcohol and drug related issues, as well as helping young adults and teenagers enjoy their school break in safe and positive environments. Ansvar has shown a great sense of community understanding when it comes to risk mitigation and this has been of great value to our organisation,” he said.

Warren Hutcheon, CEO Ansvar, said “Our position as a leader in the faith sector is one we will continue to defend and grow from strength to strength. As one of the five sectors that sets Ansvar apart from the rest of the market, the renewal with INC is a testament to the team both at INC and Ansvar. I am proud our enduring relationship has proven itself over time.”

“With the number of programs INC is involved in, both at a domestic and international level, the organisation is able to take advantage of the wide range of services Ansvar offers in the faith sector,” said Warren.

 

About Ansvar Insurance

Ansvar is a leading specialist commercial and consultative insurer offering tailored insurance products and services to the; Care, Community Service (including Not-for-Profit), Education, Faith and Heritage sectors.  With more than 50 years of experience in the Australian insurance industry we’ve developed a deep understanding of our clients’ needs, and the risks and challenges they face, as well as the environments in which they operate.

 

Ansvar is a subsidiary of Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc (Ecclesiastical) which was established in the UK in 1887. Ecclesiastical is owned by a charity and all available profits are distributed for the benefit of the church and the community.

For more information, please visit www.ansvar.com.au.

For Media Inquiries:

Myrna Van Pelt                                    Kahlia Wilson
Zeno Australia                                     Marketing and Digital Communications Manager Myrna.vanpelt@zenogroup.com             Ansvar Insurance

(02) 9291 3368                                    kwilson@ansvar.com.au

0412 48914                                         (03) 8630 3003

MEDIA RELEASE

Specialist financial services group Ecclesiastical has this week announced that it donated a staggering £23.5m to charity during 2014.  This follows a further recent grant of £7m and reflects the company’s strong business performance in 2014.  The donation is another significant step towards the company’s ambitious goal of giving £50m to charity over three years, launched in January 2014.

Commenting on the donation, Ecclesiastical’s Group Chief Executive Mark Hews said:

“I’m delighted that our strong performance in 2014 has enabled us to make yet another sizeable grant for onward distribution to great charitable causes across the UK.  Our total giving over the past twelve months is over £23m so we are now well on our way to achieving the ambitious £50m charitable giving goal we set ourselves early last year.

“This is a fantastic achievement and one that all our employees, customers and business partners should feel proud of.  It comes as a result of exceptional commitment from all our staff throughout the year and the continued support from all our customers, brokers and business partners in the UK and overseas. On behalf of the company and all our charitable beneficiaries, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our supporters for helping us give back so much.

“As we build momentum into 2015, I would also like to invite others to join us on our journey to help develop and grow our unique company and support us in achieving this worthwhile £50m goal.”

The company has also announced this week that it is planning to launch an innovative and ambitious Corporate Responsibility (CR) programme in 2015. The new programme, titled Greater Giving Programme will see the company’s CR activities brought under one umbrella and increased across all Group companies and international territories from 2015. Further detail on the programme will follow in spring.

– ENDS –

 

Media enquiries

Katri Link, PR Manager, Ecclesiastical Insurance

Tel: 01452 873162

Email: katri.link@ecclesiastical.com

Visit www.ecclesiastical.com

Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ.

 

Adrian Beeby, Ellipsis Communication

Tel: 07879 403564

Email: adrian.beeby@ellipsisonline.com

 

 

About Ecclesiastical

Owned by a registered charity, Allchurches Trust, Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services organisation. With its main operations and headquarters in the UK, Ecclesiastical also operates in Australia, Canada and Ireland.

Ecclesiastical is a specialist insurer of charities, the education and faith sectors, heritage buildings and fine art.

Founded in 1887 to provide insurance for the Anglican Church, the company now offers a wide range of commercial insurances, as well as home insurance, selling through brokers and directly.

Ecclesiastical also offers a range of ethically screened investment funds through its award-winning investment management business, Ecclesiastical Investment Management.

Ecclesiastical is one of UK’s Top Company Donors to Charity according to the 2013/2014 UK Guide to Company Giving.

Ecclesiastical’s Group vision, launched in January 2014, states that the Group intends to give £50m to charity between 2014-2016. In 2014 alone the company donated a total of £23.5m towards the £50m goal.

 

More information about the company can be found at www.ecclesiastical.com

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the care, community (including not-for-profit), education, faith and heritage sectors, has opened its virtual doors to a revitalised version of www.ansvar.com.au, designed to fulfil the growing information needs of its intermediary partners.

The newly launched website is a flagship investment of the company’s marketing program and a culmination of the Ansvar brand refresh and restructure of the business that has occurred over the last 18 months.

“We have undertaken a complete overhaul and redesign of the website, through workshops with both internal and external stakeholders. Our vision for the website is to reaffirm Ansvar’s position in the market as the leading insurer within our core segments,” said Deirdre Blythe, Acting CEO, Ansvar.

“We have experienced strong growth this year, particularly in the second half, so we’re seeing the dividends of our time and effort we invested in overhauling the business.  The strength of our brand externally is a critical component of that and our new website signifies a very tangible and visual aspect of the new Ansvar,” Deirdre said.

Key features of the new Ansvar website include:

• Ansvar’s expertise lies within its people who we are bringing to the forefront through our Ansvar Specialists.
• The site, while it contains all the information typical of an underwriter’s website, is not based on products alone. Instead, it provides brokers with information relating to challenges and risk exposures specific to Ansvar’s core sectors, offering a holistic approach to solving client’s insurance needs.
• The foresights section provides a wide range of topics and challenges facing our client’s industries, creating a platform for Ansvar to share knowledge and highlight successes, providing helpful guidance to brokers.
• Content will be dynamic and regularly updated, with an emphasis on knowledge sharing.

“Our hope is that the website will continue to deepen the association our intermediary partners have with Ansvar.  Our vision is that Ansvar will be the first choice for brokers for any and all of our core segments,” said Deirdre.

“Ansvar’s long held experience within our core segments, yields rich content and allows the brand to position itself as one of the most experienced providers in these sectors.  We believe the new website, which is part of a broader sales and marketing strategy, will help to further strengthen our market position in 2014.”

Ansvar Insurance, Australia’s leading insurance provider for the Community, Care, Education, Faith and Heritage segments today announced this week’s SteadFast 2013 conference as the most successful to date.

Given Ansvar’s recent overhaul of the business, and the almost completed change management program, SteadFast provided a timely opportunity for Ansvar to reach out and reaffirm its commitment to broker partners.

As part of the brand repositioning, and to shift traditional perceptions of the brand, Ansvar made a deliberate decision to use SteadFast to provide brokers with a refreshed look at the business.

“We made the point of producing an exhibition stand that was both surprising and uncharacteristic,” said Andrew Moon, CEO, Ansvar.

“The feedback from brokers was that the Ansvar stand was engaging and vibrant.   Our objective was to demonstrate to our broker partners that we are embracing  change in a visible manner.  From the way we dressed, to the way we engaged with brokers on the stand, our aim was to lift the profile of Ansvar and garner the broker’s attention,” said Andrew.

As one of the major sponsors of SteadFast 2013, Ansvar enjoyed a strong presence and attracted a volume of attendee traffic.

“We certainly achieved our objective of repositioning the brand in front of the broker audience. The representation of a new, bolder Ansvar is a sign of what’s to come and a shift away from the more conservative reputation we’d built in previous years.

“With the success of this year’s Steadfast, we’re looking forward to renewing our presence at SteadFast again next year,” Andrew said.