With a global presence and headquarters in Australia, North America, The United Kingdom, New Zealand and beyond, Gallagher Bassett’s New Zealand team is supported by leading insurance experts from across the globe.
Gallagher Bassett New Zealand is led by an impressive executive team who are specialised in insurance carriers and passionate about business development, client experience and corporate culture.
Meet Gallagher Bassett’s New Zealand Leaders
Craig Furness
Managing Director
Craig Furness joined Gallagher Bassett in 2016 and boasts more than 16 years’ experience in the insurance industry. Dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes and integrated global business solutions for clients, Craig continues to overlay his operational, manufacturing, distribution and financial expertise in his role as Managing Director.
With a deep understanding of the New Zealand market, Craig is committed to providing tailored solutions to Gallagher Bassett’s national customers, considering their unique risks and opportunities while enhancing global reputation and increasing business growth across multiple insurance sectors.
Steven Walsh
Chief Client Officer
Steven has over 25 years of industry experience working in senior managerial roles at publicly listed financial services companies. Steven’s extensive skillset includes general management, national leadership, product management, sales and distribution of banking and financial services in the New Zealand market.
Prior to Gallagher Bassett, Steven held leading roles for a number of insurance companies such as ASB, Sovereign, Sentinel, AMP and Westpac and brings that wealth of experience across general, life and health insurance, to the group.
Megan Ferguson
Chief Operations Officer
Megan is a skilled operations leader with more than 15 years’ experience in key roles across insurance, telecommunications, banking, ACC and Council. Her passion for consumer-centric solutions and creative behavioural change programs has made her one of New Zealand’s most sought-after insurance specialists.
Megan has successfully led large scale transformation programs that focus on customer and team experience, reducing costs and managing the impacts of business mergers and acquisitions. Her strategic oversite, industry knowledge and business development skills continue to enhance her client’s market presence and Gallagher Bassett’s global offering.
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Meet Gallagher Bassett’s Global Leaders
Scott Newland
General Manager – Government & Long-Tail Claims
Scott Newland has over 16 years of experience and significant expertise in General Insurance. Prior to joining Gallagher Bassett 5 years ago, Scott developed comprehensive, hands on claims experience across a wide range of industries and claims portfolios.
Scott has previously held leadership roles for Marsh Pty Ltd and Insurance Australia Group (IAG) managing large and diverse teams across multiple portfolios. Scott excels in meeting and exceeding the service and performance expectations of his clients. As the General Manager - Government and Long-Tail Claims, managing a large and diverse team across multiple locations and has aligned service standards, processes and streamlined procedures across the division he oversees.
Joe Berrios
Senior Vice President
Joseph oversees Gallagher Bassett’s strategic carrier performance and nurtures the firm’s insurance partners in conjunction with a dedicated group of carrier practice claims professionals. Joseph enjoys working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop the outcomes that exceed performance goals and became a Harvard Business School graduate after completing the Breakthrough Leadership Management Program in 2013.
Having held senior leadership roles within Gallagher Bassett for more than 14 years, Joseph carries almost 35 years of experience in the insurance industry working for companies GAB Robins and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Stacey Williams
Chief Client Officer
Stacey is an industry leader in organisational transformation, client relations and business development. Having started with Gallagher Bassett almost 20 years ago, Stacey has worked in various roles, start-ups, product lines, markets and locations around Australia including Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
With extensive experience in workers’ compensation, self-insurance and general insurance, Stacey is now responsible for Gallagher Bassett’s national account management and client partnership strategies. Stacey was most-recently named Business Development Professional of the Year at the 2019 Women in Finance Awards and made Business Insurance's global list of 2019 Women to Watch.
Jon Winsbury
Executive Vice President – International
Jon Winsbury started at Gallagher Bassett as an Operations Manager in 1998. Fast forward 22 years and Jon is now Executive Vice President of the International division with 30+ years of insurance experience under his belt. Responsible for the strategic direction and growth of Gallagher Bassett internationally, his strong belief in culture and staff empowers the business to continually achieve stellar results.
Jon’s reputation for excellence in business in based on broad experiences and specialised knowledge within the insurance industry.
John McNamara
Chief Executive Officer - Australia
As Gallagher Bassett Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, John McNamara has more than 15 years’ experience within the organisation and more than 30 years of insurance experience, making him one of Australia’s most highly regarded insurance experts.
Specializing in strategic planning, implementation and business leadership, John is passionate about investigating and adopting innovative project solutions that enhance client experiences. Before joining Gallagher Bassett, John held several business leadership roles with Allianz, QBE, and JLT.
Michael Hessling
Chief Executive Officer - North America
As Gallagher Bassett’s Chief Executive Officer in North America, Michael Hessling is responsible for overseeing client relationship programs and carrier-related business development initiatives across the region. Carrying more than 20 years of experience in the finance, business and insurance disputes industries, Michael has strong negotiation techniques, business development practices and global insurance insights.
Michael joined Gallagher Bassett in 2012 and has since implemented creative problem-solving practices across several departments, expanding the recruitment and professional development arm of the business and ensuring all employees are achieving optimal results for their clients.
Pete Diskin
Chief Client Officer – United Kingdom
Pete Diskin started at Gallagher Bassett more than 20 years ago and has worked in various company divisions including branch management, operations and product development across Australia and The United Kingdom. Prior to Gallagher Bassett, Pete trained and worked as a Surveillance Operative and Factual Investigator where he was regularly required to testify in court and deliver investigative results. As Chief Client Officer based in London, Pete is dedicated to corporate stability and organisational culture to ultimately enhance Gallagher Bassett’s client relationships, proactive approach and service offerings.Want to receive industry insights from our team of experts?
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