Steadfast MD and CEO Robert Kelly has outlined his business philosophy – which borrows more than a little from his passion for sailing. 

Mr Kelly was speaking to insuranceNEWS.com.au following confirmation that he intends to continue leading the company beyond a previously announced commitment. He will not tender a required 12-month notice under existing employment arrangements before December 31 2025. 

“The way I operate the business is, I don’t give a view that I have to uphold,” he said. 

“I give a view that we should investigate, and look at, and analyse, and make a decision about whether we walk away or go forward. That’s my approach. Don’t set your course. 

“I guess it’s because of my sailing background. In a yacht race, you know where you want to end up, but sometimes you have to take a [different] course to get there. 

“You can have an idea of what you want to do and what you should do, but in reality you’ve got to be prepared to change course or even abandon the race if it’s not working out. 

“Be strict in your thoughts, strategic in your direction, understand what you want to achieve, have the ability to execute it, but also the knowledge and the smarts to be able to say, this is not for us.” 

Mr Kelly co-founded Steadfast in 1996 and has more than 50 years’ experience in the insurance industry. The group will mark 10 years since listing on the ASX in August, and has continued to expand rapidly in that time.  

Steadfast said at the half-year results that it had 417 network brokers, including 342 in Australia, 53 in New Zealand and 22 in Singapore, as well as 29 underwriting agencies. The company has also been investigating options to possibly expand its US presence.