Company:

Marsh Risk

Description:

We are seeking a talented leader to head a key client segment for Marsh Risk New Zealand.   Based in Auckland, this hybrid position requires a minimum of three days per week in the office. As a senior executive, you will be accountable for the performance of the New Zealand Commercial Segment and be a vital member of the Marsh New Zealand Executive team.

This high-profile position serves a diverse client base, including SME and Commercial businesses. Your primary focus will be to foster a culture of best practices and exemplary behaviours throughout the segment, taking full responsibility for its performance. Leveraging strong financial management and leadership, you will drive Marsh Risk’s and Marsh’s financial goals in New Zealand while supporting the broader Marsh Risk Pacific Corporate and Commercial business plans, with an emphasis on innovation and strategic financial initiatives.

Success in this role will be measured by achieving client and revenue growth—both organic and through mergers and acquisitions—meeting profitability targets, ensuring operational excellence, and excelling in people management, particularly by developing talent to secure future leadership succession.

We will count on you to:

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic leadership by driving the Commercial Segment’s vision nationally, preparing and executing business plans that align with Marsh Risk’s overall strategy.
• Lead the development and implementation of effective renewal and broking strategies to consistently exceed performance targets.
• Foster a positive, client-focused culture that drives continuous improvement and competitive advantage within the Commercial Segment.
• Build and sustain a strong sales and growth culture by embedding sales disciplines and providing targeted training to meet growth objectives.
• Champion people management practices aligned with Marsh’s programs, including on-the-job training, regular performance feedback, competency-based development, and career planning.
• Maximize the Segment’s use of Marsh’s regional and global resources, ensuring employees are aware of and leverage available capabilities.
• Establish and maintain best practices across the Commercial Segment, ensuring consistent application throughout New Zealand.
• Collaborate closely with the leadership team to deliver consistent, professional client services nationwide.
• Identify and nurture talent within the Segment, developing succession plans to build a robust leadership pipeline.
• Drive acquisition strategies by identifying prospects, conducting due diligence, and ensuring smooth integration of new teams and companies.

Financial Performance

• Manage financial performance by controlling expenses, meeting revenue and profit budgets, and implementing efficient work practices to maximize profitability.
• Ensure the Segment consistently meets and exceeds its revenue, expense, and trading profit budgets.
• Maximize Segment and account profitability through efficient work practices, adequate client billing, and sensible expense control.

Revenue Generation

• Recognize and capitalize on revenue growth opportunities, actively developing new business from existing portfolios and other sources.
• Support all Marsh-sponsored revenue initiatives and ensure their successful implementation within the practice.
• Enhance the Commercial Segment’s profile in the insurance market, leveraging Marsh’s global reputation to deliver client-centric results.

Client/Industry Relations

• Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with insurers to secure competitive solutions and services for Commercial clients.
• Monitor industry and environmental changes to protect and strengthen client relationships.
• Ensure all team members thoroughly understand clients’ businesses, risk management, and insurance needs to deliver tailored services and programs.
• Undertake relationship management with key clients and sponsor bodies.
• Act as a senior representative of Marsh New Zealand at industry events, meetings, and functions.

Compliance & Technical

• Uphold strict compliance with Marsh New Zealand’s quality standards, systems, and procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of insurance products, industry legislation, and regulatory requirements.
• Personally adhere to Marsh’s Errors and Omissions avoidance procedures and ensure the Segment operates without errors or omissions.

What you need to have:

• At least 15 years of insurance industry experience, including senior leadership roles managing performance within SME and Commercial markets.
• In-depth knowledge of New Zealand insurance regulations, compliance standards, and risk management practices.
• Proven track record as a senior executive contributing to organizational strategy and decision-making at the executive leadership level.
• Demonstrated success in driving client acquisition, retention, and revenue growth both organically and through mergers and acquisitions.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing P&L responsibilities, budgeting, forecasting, and delivering profitability targets.
• Experience leading innovation initiatives and executing financially strategic projects, such as digital transformation and process improvements.
• Hands-on involvement in mergers and acquisitions activities, including due diligence, integration, and leveraging acquisitions for growth.
• Expertise in managing operational performance to ensure efficiency, compliance, and service excellence.
• Commitment to talent development through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning to build future leadership pipelines.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within teams, with a commitment to continuous professional development and staying current with industry trends.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Insurance, or a related field; advanced qualifications or professional designations are preferred.
• New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) is required.

What makes you stand out:

• Strategic Leadership. Defines, evaluates, and communicates long and medium-term objectives for defined clients. Focuses activities on the achievement of a vision or desired long-term outcome.
• Results Focused. Expertise in delivering quality and consistently strong results
• Communication and Influence. Conveys written and verbal messages effectively to various audiences, adapting approach as appropriate. Displays sound listening and comprehensive skills.
• Innovation. Develops new and alternative approaches to existing practices, creates new or improved processes, solutions, products, and services. Maintains an openness to experiment with alternative approaches.
• Collaboration. Acts as a connector across the organization, bring colleagues together to bring the best of the enterprise to client solutions.
• Decision Making. Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities. Compares data from different sources to draw conclusions. Uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions. Takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

Marsh Risk is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Marsh Risk, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.