Pros
- International opportunities for those who are high performers. Very internationally mobile workforce (for the right people). International experience is valued unlike most other Australian companies - Competent APAC CEO Jack Howell, bringing some big M&A deals into the APAC region that it has not seen in literally decades. APAC feels like its finally on the radar with the big boys (the Europe and Nth America region) Australia General Insurance specific: - Australian GI CEO R.N was recently removed - Claims is good, leadership is genuine and competent - Operations is OK, no shortage of change and various other projects to keep you occupied - SME underwriting is OK, whilst pay is low there's genuine progression opportunities for those who are relatively new to industry - Commercial / Large Commercial underwriting is OK, though very big on boys club mentality - Good flexible workplace practices in place, good IT infrastructure to allow work from home - Enterprise Bargaining Agreement provides some protection for employees at redundancy - Decent staff benefits (eg staff discounts, leave, non-financial benefits), not industry leading but its decent. - Strong Compliance culture which whilst not perfect, they do try to do the right thing - Top down directive for genuine focus more on the customer. Again, its not perfect but at least they are trying to do the right thing.
Kontras
- High turnover and restructures at the Global and APAC Regional Level (but hopefully Jack Howell will stay for awhile introducing some stability for the region). - Inability to install a competent GI Australian CEO that will stay around long enough ( have gone through 4 CEOs in 8 yrs). - With every new Australian CEO, they want to put their own mark on the business which has led to constant change. This is further exacerbated by Global/Regional directives to make changes to org structures / cost cutting exercises - Good Leaders and Staff are leaving the business as its not worth their while dealing with the management. Farewell party for staff every other wk. - Previous Australian CEO bred toxic management culture (decision paralysis, passing the buck, promoting people who are loudest even if they have infamous reputations). To add to this, he also brought in a few similarly incompetent / toxic CXOs - Avoid Distribution, head of distribution maintains toxic management culture, everyone's scared to make any decisions / or uses him as an excuse to not do anything - HR means well but is very understaffed and has high turnover as good people don't want to hang around.
