DONALDSON BROWN NZ LIMITED - Key Persons
Aimee began her insurance career in 2002 and since then has held various roles with both national and international broking houses. Over her time in the insurance industry Aimee has worked on a variety of different accounts including large corporates, rural and smaller entities. Most recently Aimee held a Senior Commercial Broker position with one of the largest broking houses in New Zealand and has a wealth of knowledge on a broad range of insurance products. Aimee is looking forward to the change and bringing her client centric focus to the Donaldson Brown team.
Alex has over 13 years of industry experience within large multinational broking companies, bringing extensive expertise in global and local placements focusing within the commercial and corporate sectors. His desire to leave the "corporates" to become a partner in Donaldson Brown was based on his belief that the New Zealand insurance industry needs to being disrupted and that a broker should always be totally transparent and do the right thing for their clients.
"Loyalty is a two-way street. If I'm asking for it from you, then you're getting it from me."
Amanda had a brief introduction to the insurance industry in 2005 before completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University. However, by 2014 Amanda decided a return to insurance was what interested her, and she completed 9 years at one of the largest broking firms in New Zealand. After this time, Amanda was ready for a change and Donaldson Brown offered this. Amanda is looking forward to extending her knowledge with Donaldson Brown and working with clients to provide them with the protection they need. Amanda has completed her New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services Level 5.
Ashka has joined Donaldson Brown as an Admin Associate for the Life and Disability team. For the past 4 years she has created and run her own successful food manufacturing business. Ashka has a passion for health and wellbeing and makes a conscientious effort to prioritise it. Her kind and positive approach, aligned with her eye for detail make her a valued member to Donaldson Brown.
Ashley has embarked on her new professional journey with Donaldson Brown as a Claims Associate. Although Ashley is new to the insurance industry, she has brought with her a wealth of knowledge from running her own successful construction business and previous management and operational skills in the construction sector. Ashley is valued for her ability to hit the ground running, passion for problem solving and professionalism. Ashley is excited to be a part of the Donaldson Brown family.
Ben has been working in the insurance industry for 10 years. He has held underwriting and broking roles in various firms during this time, gaining invaluable experience in different environments. Ben has dealt with a wide range of business risks and has developed extensive technical knowledge as a result. He is committed to providing his clients with honest and transparent advice to achieve the best possible outcomes, while ensuring his goals and advice align with the Donaldson Brown's values.
Chantelle has started at Donaldson Brown as an Admin Associate. After working in the health and beauty industry in versions roles, she thrives on multi-tasking and a fast past environment. Chantelle is excited to start her new career in insurance.
Chris started his insurance career in 2006 in London prior to moving back to New Zealand in 2008 where he began his career with one of the large corporate broking houses. Chris enjoys working with all sectors of business risk, specialising in his advice to contractors, transport operators, property and construction clients. He focuses on a client centric approach with quality outcomes for businesses with results that suit his clients. Chris was becoming increasingly frustrated with the various broking models he encountered and feels the Donaldson Brown approach is both refreshing and appealing.
Constance has joined Donaldson Brown as a Financial Accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Financial Management & has over 8 years in the finance profession. Although new to the insurance industry, Constance believes in making a difference & adding value to the organisation.
Craig has over 28 years of insurance experience including the last 23 years with large multinational broking companies, both in New Zealand and Australia. Craig brings extensive expertise in corporate and commercial broking across various industries. Craig is focused on providing a high level of customer service and committed to providing transparent, client focused outcomes for all our clients. Craig was motivated to join Donaldson Brown to demonstrate true value to clients with the benefit of totally clear and transparent costs. He's also passionate about joining a company that is proudly 100% New Zealand owned that gives back to local charities and the community.
Dan has held a number of senior roles within New Zealand's largest insurance companies and broking houses over the past 20 years. He has won multiple industry awards and is highly regarded as one of New Zealand's top insurance brokers. Dan founded Donaldson Brown on the principles of innovation and the disruption of an insurance value chain bloated with cost and lacking in actual value.
Dan has over a decade of industry experience, having started out with New Zealand's top direct insurer working in sales, claims and underwriting. With over 7 years' experience as a Broker & Risk Adviser specialising in tailored property placements, retirement villages, aged care and construction, Dan is committed to providing the best possible solutions to the risks our clients face. Dan holds a Diploma in Business & Finance from Massey University and New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services Level 5.
Daniel's been in the insurance industry since 2014, working with NZ's largest health insurance provider. As a relationship manager he specialised in supporting organisations retain and attract the best people. Daniel aims to add value to any relationship by finding relevant solutions to gaps in wellness, retention, and employee benefits. Being reliable, attentive, and transparent is what you can expect from Daniel.
Debbie has over 20 years' experience in the industry holding various broking roles. During this time, she has worked for small and large broking firms managing a variety of diverse and technical clients including large property portfolios, food industry, primary and manufacturing industries, sporting institutes & activities as well as bespoke private insurance programmes.
"The test of the artist does not lie in the will with which he goes to work, but in the excellence of the work he produces." --Thomas Aquinas
Debra joined the insurance industry in 2019, bringing with her a wealth of administration experience. Debra previously worked in claims, with her focus now on Private Assets. She has recently completed her NZ Certificate in Financial Services Level 5. Debra focuses on building a rapport with her clients & making their experience as easy as possible.
Emily has joined Donaldson Brown as an Admin Associate for the Life and Disability team, although new to the industry, Emily is looking forward to starting on her own path in the insurance sector. Emily's aim is to a add value and be a personable staff member they can connect with. Emily enjoys working within a team environment and will look to ensure the clients of Donaldson Brown are well looked after.
Erica was born and raised in Toronto Canada before moving to New Zealand in 2022. With a decade of experience in the Canadian insurance industry, she's collaborated with diverse business, from small local shops to major corporations. Erica is driven by a passion for pinpointing client risks and delivering high quality customer service.
Erin joined the insurance industry in 2002 and since then has worked in various roles with national and international broking houses. More recently Erin worked for one of the largest broking houses in New Zealand as a Senior Support in their Corporate team. Erin has a wide range of product knowledge and has been a Broker in the past so has a wealth of industry experience. Erin looks forward to working with customers and protecting what matters most.
George has over a decade of experience giving Life, Disability and Health Insurance advice to both families and business owners. Having worked for several large corporates as well as running his own advisory business, George joined Donaldson Brown in 2022 attracted to the company's values of trust and total transparency. George prides himself on the personalised advice and service he gives to his clients, tailoring a solution to their specific needs and helping them to make an informed decision about how to protect themselves, their family and their business. George holds a Master of Arts degree in Economic History from the University of Edinburgh.
Grant has over a decade of industry experience and comes from a boutique corporate broking background, specialising in financial lines and intangible risks. He has acted for a number of firms in the financial institutions, professional services and technology industries. Grant holds a Bachelors of Applied Economics and Finance from Massey and brings a fresh quantitative approach to broking and advisory services.
Hayley has over 20 years experience in the insurance industry at one of the largest multinational broking houses, specializing in the Transport and Logistics sectors in New Zealand. Hayley is passionate about providing a high level of customer service and providing proven added value to her customer base and challenging the status quo. Hayley was announced as an Insurance Business Young Gun in 2019, is a Senior Associate CIP and holds a Diploma of Financial Services, Certificate IV in Financial Services and Compliance for Advisers.
Hazel started at Donaldson Brown as an Admin Associate. After working in the beauty industry for 3 years, she is looking forward to starting a new career path in Insurance. Hazel is excited to apply her experience working in a fast-paced team environment and ensuring maximum client satisfaction.
Issa joined the Insurance Industry in 2012 with a background in Sales & Marketing. Since then he has operated within a wide range of insurance markets. In 2017 he worked for a Multinational Broker and before that spent two years working within the London Market in an Underwriting and Broking capacity. Issa's passion is and has always been for his clients and making sure they are fully aware of everything they need to know regarding the various risks facing their business. He is fully committed to providing transparent, client-centric outcome's at all times and ensuring his client's interests are put first as an independent & transparent broker should.
Jared started his insurance career in 2014 which included six years working in the London insurance market. He has held both underwriting and broking roles, managing Lloyd's of London backed facilities and placing risks on behalf of a specialist Lloyd's of London broker. Jared has considerable experience within the Financial Lines space and takes extreme pride in achieving the right solutions when arranging insurance programmes on behalf of his clients. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University and Diploma of Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Jody has been in the insurance industry for approximately 2 years, working for a direct insurer. Jody is passionate about unpacking and discovering the needs of the customer and loves working in a collaborative team environment. Jody is focused, positive and looking forward to learning and growing in her new career path and being part of the DB team.
Joel has joined Donaldson Brown as an Admin Associate keen to explore and learn about the insurance industry. With 3 years of administration experience Joel is eager to see how his skills can be helpful and how he can hone them even further.
Kaneesha has joined Donaldson Brown as an admin associate, with a background in reception and administration within the law and health industry. She loves working in a team, solving problems, enjoys a variety of tasks and helping others. Ambitious and driven she is looking forward to gaining knowledge and expanding in the insurance industry.
Kyle has over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a strong background in claims ranging from motor, property, liability, and travel. Kyle is committed to ensuring the delivery of an effective, professional, and customer-focused claims service. He loves being part of the reason why business and communities can take risks, grow, and operate. His aim is always to make the claims process a seamless experience for our clients.
Laurence first joined the insurance industry in 2016 working at one of the largest insurance companies in New Zealand specialising in domestic underwriting, customer service and commercial insurance. Coming from a Pacific Island background, Laurence has a passion to be able to raise awareness in these wider communities of the importance of having insurance as well as being able to provide clear advice with no hidden agendas. Laurence is excited at joining the Donaldson Brown family whose core values are second to none in the industry and make it possible for this to happen.
Madison started at Donaldson Brown as an admin associate, then moved into the personal broking space. Due to her knowledge of our systems, organisational background working in administration and over 5 years' experience at Donaldson Brown, Madison has now taken a new role within the business as an Operations Adviser. Madison has her Level 5 Financial Services Certification and will be working between the broking and operational aspects of the business.
Mandy has worked in the insurance industry for a combined total of 15 years. Her roles have included underwriting, claims and broking in both domestic and commercial fields. Mandy has a passion for the Private Assets area as she loves talking to people about what's precious to them and enjoys chatting to people from all walks of life. Mandy looks forward to being able to share her knowledge with the growing team.
Mark has worked in the insurance industry since 2015 developing an understanding of how to add value in every interaction, to achieve supporting great outcomes for people. He has worked day-to-day with customers and takes time to understand their whole situation to provide the best experience. He loves working with people and in a team environment, has great attention to detail and will look to ensure the clients of Donaldson Brown are well looked after.
Mathew started his career in the financial services working for a major United Kingdom bank as a financial crime associate and then worked for a highly regarded New Zealand travel insurance company as a claims assessor. He has developed a passion for customer service excellence and is committed to achieving optimal insurance outcomes for Donaldson Brown clients in his role as a claims associate.
Mobeen Rostamy is an accomplished professional in the insurance industry. He embarked on his journey in the insurance world as a call centre representative. Through dedication and hard work, he swiftly climbed ranks and explored various claims roles, focusing on fire and general claims as well as commercial motor insurance. Driven by a passion for continuous growth and a thirst for knowledge, Mobeen made a pivotal decision to join Donaldson Brown. Here, he aims to expand his expertise in claims management while delving into different product lines, embracing new challenges with enthusiasm. Mobeen's unwavering commitment to providing exceptional customer service has earned him respect and admiration in the industry. He takes pride in assisting clients during their times of need and strives to ensure their claims process is smooth and stress-free.
Natasha has joined the Donaldson Brown team as an Admin Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Science from The University of Otago majoring in Plant-Biotechnology. She is excited to apply her eye for detail and problem-solving skills to support the smooth running of Donaldson Brown, all whilst developing her knowledge of the insurance industry.
Paul has over 15 years' sales and business development experience in the banking and insurance industry, specialising in the Chinese migrant market. He is committed to utilising his knowledge and experience to make more NZ Migrant businesses prosperous and feels his values align to the DB values in helping him achieve this.
Paula has over 30 years as a Fire & General Insurance professional and has held a variety of roles within the industry including underwriting, claims, broking, compliance and operations management. For the last 10 years she has worked in Compliance, Operations and Learning & Development for a brokerage collective. These roles have involved process development, auditing, complaint handling, risk management and training. Paula has a passion for customer care and is also a natural problem solver and loves supporting customers and passing on her knowledge.
Pierre began his career as an Account Manager at Lumley Insurance in 2011 after the Christchurch Earthquakes. In 2014 he began working for one of the largest broking houses in New Zealand in their local corporate team. Pierre has worked on large corporate property programmes, motor fleets and construction projects and has had clients from a range of different industries. Pierre prioritises client service and obtaining the best outcome for his customers to suit their needs and requirements. Pierre believes the Donaldson Brown model is the new standard for the provision of insurance services in New Zealand.
Racheal has over 15 years' experience in the industry holding underwriting and broking roles before specialising in proactive claim management and resolution for the past 10 years. Racheal was Corporate Claims Manager winning Claims Person of the Year 2015 and successfully managed a myriad of claims including multimillion dollar earthquake, complex liability, marine, and motor claims.
Ruben started his insurance career 15 years ago after working in the financial sector for several years. Originally from South America, he has worked in several different financial institutions in New Zealand and overseas. Ruben has gained a wide range of knowledge and experience in the industry including life and health insurance, investment banking, sales and kiwisaver. For Ruben his clients are always his first priority and developing a positive relationship is at the forefront of all his actions.
Shane started his insurance career when he moved to New Zealand in 2007. Over the years he has held several underwriting and broking roles, with most of that time being with one of New Zealand's largest broking houses where he held a senior role. Shane has worked with a broad range of different business risks and as a result has extensive technical knowledge. He is committed to providing the best possible outcome for his clients by providing honest and transparent advice.
Having started her insurance career in 2012 at a leading direct Insurer, Shayna more recently obtained her New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services and has experience as a Domestic Broker for one of New Zealand's largest Broking Houses. Shayna was drawn to Donaldson Brown as her Employer of Choice due to holding similar values as well as being 100% New Zealand owned. She's ready to expand her insurance knowledge becoming an Associate Risk Adviser and looks forward to working with some of the greatest people in the industry. Shayna is very approachable and always willing to help. She has a passion for people and will always ensure clients are well looked after.
Stacey has joined Donaldson Brown with a background of 4 years Loss Adjusting experience in the Insurance industry, having specialised in the Domestic & Commercial space of loss and handling property, contents, and material damage claims. Stacey has a wide range of policy knowledge from working on behalf of many different insurance companies and recommends appropriate outcomes for settlement based on her assessments. Stacey strives to build great relationships with others through her bubbly personality, dedicating herself to customers by giving 110% and advising on technical situations with flexible thinking and empathy. Stacey has adapted well into the broking field from her adjusting background and looks forward to expanding her knowledge even further in the industry.
Stefan joined Donaldson Brown (DB) in April 2023 as their first ever full time CEO after owners Dan Donaldson and Alex Brown started the business in 2014. Prior to joining DB, Stefan worked at Southern Cross Health Society as CFRO in 2014 where he was responsible for the business' Finance, Risk, Compliance, Integrity, Investment and Analytics functions. Stefan is an accomplished executive and leader, with a broad range of experience gained over 25 years and across five countries. For two years before Southern Cross, Stefan was the Head of Business Unit Finance with Westpac in New Zealand. Prior to that, he spent eight years at American Express, including working in Singapore in the Regional Business Planning and Strategy team and as the Chief Financial Officer here in New Zealand. Born in Canada of Maltese parents and raised in England, Stefan holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Bristol University. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (England & Wales) and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Stevie has joined Donaldson Brown as an Associate Risk Adviser in the Life & Disability team. Having worked in the insurance industry for 5 years she has gained the knowledge and passion to provide a high level of client service. She is ambitious and driven and is looking forward to gaining further knowledge in the insurance industry.
Sylvia has joined Donaldson Brown Insurance Brokers as Broker Executive Support, supporting the Head of Life and Disability Insurance. She has a lot of experience in various administration and support roles and thrives in a busy, dynamic environment. Sylvia is valued for her attention to detail, positive attitude and professionalism and loves to be part of the team at Donaldson Brown.
Tom is a commercial Fire and General Risk Adviser. He started his insurance career in 2016, working at a New Zealand direct insurer, before moving to a commercial broker role with a large multinational company in 2019. He has a bachelor's degree in communications. Tom was attracted to joining Donaldson Brown as their values in transparency, customer focus, and doing the right thing; aligned with his own.
Vijita has joined Donaldson Brown as a Private Asset Risk Adviser and has worked in the insurance industry for 10 years in Australia and New Zealand. Vijita has worked in both Commercial and Domestic Insurance and decided to expand into Domestic Insurance, as she is passionate about helping her clients understand insurance and ensuring they have the right cover for whats most valuable to them. Vijita enjoys building rapport with her clients and thrives on getting the best result for her clients. Vijita enjoys working for Donaldson Brown as their values for doing the right thing for their clients aligns with her values.