Supporting Members in business

In a people-focused industry like insurance, no two days are the same. And when you’re working with innovators and change makers like Kiwi business owners, there’s even more to keep you on your toes.

“For other industries, it could be are our policies fit to cover the sort of cars we might all be driving in 20 years’ time? We’re always talking to our Members about where they think their industry is going so we can get there ahead of it. You have to think out of the box sometimes and for me, that’s a really interesting part of it.”

Comprehensive products and personalised service

With 10 business insurance experts in the MAS Business Risk team, each with a wealth of experience and with diverse backgrounds, MAS’s business insurance arm is in growth mode.

Currently, MAS supports a range of business-owning Members with policies covering building, business interruption, contents and stock, public legal liability, employers, statutory and employment practices liability and employee dishonesty.

For Craig, who started his lengthy insurance career in his hometown of Durban, South Africa, his decades in the business have taught him that pretty much anything is insurable.

“The most unusual thing I have insured so far is a trademark protection for a leading-edge prosthetic hand,” he says.

And at MAS, he says that’s exactly the sort of personalised service that Members can rely on.

“Our goal is to build closer relationships with our Members, and we do this by making sure we understand their business and exactly what they do. That way, we understand what products work best for them. I think it’s knowing all these little nuances about our Members that makes our level of service stand out.”

Across the tight-knit MAS Business Risk team, expertise spans a hugely diverse range of business sectors and backgrounds. From farming and forestry to cyber products, manufacturing to city councils, small to medium enterprises to banking services, the wealth of experience in the team means there’s a MAS expert to create tailored solutions for all Members’ business insurance needs. Several team members have been with MAS for more than 10 years, while others bring their knowledge and expertise from extensive work with large corporates or smaller, specialised brokerages.

“Our highly experienced team is our strength,” says Craig. “We make time to talk about how the week has gone and also how we could do things better. 

For Craig, who now calls Tauranga home, it’s a busy role that often sees him travelling throughout the country and tackling some of the trickier cases that are outside the square, but he’s always been driven by a challenge.

“I just love creating solutions for our Members, and when you think you’ve nailed it, that’s when you stop moving forward and learning. So for us, we keep expanding our knowledge through talking with our Members, and we learn through meetings with our peers throughout the MAS team. There will always be something that you haven’t thought of and something new to find a solution for. That’s why we do what we do.”

Meet the team

Whatever your business insurance needs, the MAS Business Risk team has you covered

Craig Simpson

Expertise in larger commercial, risks structuring, financial and professional lines, marine and construction risks.

John Brans

Expertise in small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME), liability, cyber and Rural Assets.

Rajnil Maharaj

Expertise in SME, financial lines, professional indemnity and directors’ and officers’ liability.

Andrew Robb

Expertise in medical, veterinary and dental professional practices.

Suzie Cromb

Expertise in SME, professional lines and financial lines.

Colin McTaggart

Expertise in medical, veterinary and dental professional practices.

Matt Taylor

Expertise in SME, cyber, professional lines and financial lines.

Gert Stander

Expertise in SME, rural assets, farming and financial lines.

Chris Coughey

Expertise in SME, rural, lifestyle, motor and pleasure craft.

Andy Williams

Expertise in medical, veterinary and dental professional practices.

To talk to one of our Advisers visit mas.co.nz/business/our-business-team/

MAS only provides advice on products offered by its subsidiary companies. Advice is provided by MAS or by its nominated representatives, who are all MAS employees.

Our financial advice disclosure statement is available by visiting mas.co.nz or by calling 0800 800 627.