Marsh New Zealand has been crowned Large Broking Company of the Year for the second time in a row while Insurance Advisernet New Zealand is Broker Network of the Year. 

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) announced the winners of the 11th New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards on Wednesday as more than 300 industry professionals gathered at Cordis in Auckland. 

IAG New Zealand CEO Amanda Whiting was named Insurance Leader of the Year and Wotton & Kearney Associate Isabelle Kwek Young Insurance Professional of the Year. 

John Stubbs, who retired in April after holding the role of Property Facultative Underwriter at Gen Re New Zealand since 1987, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been an ANZIIF member since starting in insurance in 1972. 

"Congratulations to this year's winners – all have displayed excellence, and a commitment to professionalism over the past year," ANZIIF CEO Prue Willsford said. 

Marsh was praised by the judges for initiatives undertaken to increase client satisfaction by providing dedicated COOs for each customer segment. 

“Marsh executives phoned clients directly to check-in and connect, and facilitated client vulnerability assessments, which were discussed monthly.”  

Marsh’s environment, social and governance (ESG) initiatives were also praised, including preferential financing rates on premium funding to ESG-committed clients, as was its strong people strategy and community involvement. 

Here is the full list of awards:  

Large Broking Company of the Year:  Marsh New Zealand    

Broker Network of the Year:  Insurance Advisernet New Zealand   

Underwriting Agency of the Year: Underwriting Agencies of New Zealand     

General Insurance Company of the Year: FMG   

Claims Team of the Year: AA Insurance    

Life Insurance Company of the Year: Asteron Life      

Insurtech Start-up of the Year: Simfuni    

Professional Services Firm of the Year: McLarens New Zealand    

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry: RedBook   

Excellence in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: AIA New Zealand     

Excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance Change: AIA New Zealand     

Young Insurance Professional of the Year: Isabelle Kwek    

Insurance Leader of the Year: Amanda Whiting    

ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award: John Stubbs