Sage Spotlight Series: Meet Our Founding Director – Michael Fennessy
With over 30 years of experience in Strata, Corporate, SME, and mid-market client service, Michael has a deep understanding of the insurance industry. We had the chance to sit down with him to chat about his influences and vision for Sage.
Michael began his career as an Account Manager at Steeves Lumley in Melbourne, serving from 1987 to 1996 and then at Honan Risk & Insurance Broking from 1997, where he held various roles before becoming a Director from 2002 to 2020. His extensive experience and leadership skills are pivotal in driving our growth and success.
Welcome, Fenno! Thank you for joining us for this Sage Spotlight. Firstly, congratulations on the successful launch of Sage Insurance! Can you share the story behind its inception and what motivated you to embark on this new venture at this stage of your career?
Thank you! Sage Insurance was established for two key reasons.
Firstly, I am committed to supporting and nurturing future business leaders. Throughout my career, I have greatly benefited from the mentorship of individuals like Neville Gibson and Damien Honan. Following the acquisition of Honan Insurance, I felt it was the right time to return past favours and assist Jasmin Gabrielli and our team build a business and create an environment worth being part of. If I can contribute to the growth and development of our team, it would be a privilege.
Secondly, I aim to provide the high level of service that our clients and connections deserve. Insurance brokers play a crucial role in facilitating businesses in their journey. We must strive to be the best we can be, ensuring that solutions are delivered effectively and efficiently.
How will you define success for Sage Insurance? What is your long-term vision?
Success will be measured by the feedback we receive from our people and our clients. Our guiding principle is to be authentic in the way we treat each other. From an insurance perspective, our clients need to experience great claims results and in a timely manner – this is the reason we exist.
Our long-term vision is to become a respected full-service national insurance broker that consistently delivers results. Ultimately, we will be judged by our actions.
We simply need to be courteous, considerate, and diligent in our work – ensuring each task is complete to the best of our abilities. Our focus is on the care we extend to our clients, that is the difference we are striving for.
What trends do you see shaping the future of the insurance industry, and how is Sage preparing for them?
There is no doubt ever-increasing developments in technology will help shape the future. We need to navigate the use of technology without losing the personal human connection that is imperative in our society.
Reflecting on your journey, can you share a significant challenge you have faced and a key achievement you are particularly proud of?
Challenges are what define us. A major loss for a client can have devastating consequences for their business, and this is when our expertise is truly tested. If coverage is inadequate or actions are insufficient, the impact can be severe. I have been involved with several total losses, including instances where properties have burnt to the ground. Working tirelessly with insurers to ensure timely resolutions has kept me awake many nights, but the gratitude expressed by those clients has been incredibly rewarding. These experiences have fostered lasting friendships and reaffirmed my commitment to this industry.
My life so far in insurance is an extension of the way I conduct myself as a whole. It is for others to judge me. In the meantime, I will do the best I can with the tools provided to me.
Michael began his career as an Account Manager at Steeves Lumley in Melbourne, serving from 1987 to 1996 and then at Honan Risk & Insurance Broking from 1997, where he held various roles before becoming a Director from 2002 to 2020. His extensive experience and leadership skills are pivotal in driving our growth and success.
Welcome, Fenno! Thank you for joining us for this Sage Spotlight. Firstly, congratulations on the successful launch of Sage Insurance! Can you share the story behind its inception and what motivated you to embark on this new venture at this stage of your career?
Thank you! Sage Insurance was established for two key reasons.
Firstly, I am committed to supporting and nurturing future business leaders. Throughout my career, I have greatly benefited from the mentorship of individuals like Neville Gibson and Damien Honan. Following the acquisition of Honan Insurance, I felt it was the right time to return past favours and assist Jasmin Gabrielli and our team build a business and create an environment worth being part of. If I can contribute to the growth and development of our team, it would be a privilege.
Secondly, I aim to provide the high level of service that our clients and connections deserve. Insurance brokers play a crucial role in facilitating businesses in their journey. We must strive to be the best we can be, ensuring that solutions are delivered effectively and efficiently.
How will you define success for Sage Insurance? What is your long-term vision?
Success will be measured by the feedback we receive from our people and our clients. Our guiding principle is to be authentic in the way we treat each other. From an insurance perspective, our clients need to experience great claims results and in a timely manner – this is the reason we exist.
Our long-term vision is to become a respected full-service national insurance broker that consistently delivers results. Ultimately, we will be judged by our actions.
We simply need to be courteous, considerate, and diligent in our work – ensuring each task is complete to the best of our abilities. Our focus is on the care we extend to our clients, that is the difference we are striving for.
What trends do you see shaping the future of the insurance industry, and how is Sage preparing for them?
There is no doubt ever-increasing developments in technology will help shape the future. We need to navigate the use of technology without losing the personal human connection that is imperative in our society.
Reflecting on your journey, can you share a significant challenge you have faced and a key achievement you are particularly proud of?
Challenges are what define us. A major loss for a client can have devastating consequences for their business, and this is when our expertise is truly tested. If coverage is inadequate or actions are insufficient, the impact can be severe. I have been involved with several total losses, including instances where properties have burnt to the ground. Working tirelessly with insurers to ensure timely resolutions has kept me awake many nights, but the gratitude expressed by those clients has been incredibly rewarding. These experiences have fostered lasting friendships and reaffirmed my commitment to this industry.
My life so far in insurance is an extension of the way I conduct myself as a whole. It is for others to judge me. In the meantime, I will do the best I can with the tools provided to me.
Michael began his career as an Account Manager at Steeves Lumley in Melbourne, serving from 1987 to 1996 and then at Honan Risk & Insurance Broking from 1997, where he held various roles before becoming a Director from 2002 to 2020. His extensive experience and leadership skills are pivotal in driving our growth and success.
Welcome, Fenno! Thank you for joining us for this Sage Spotlight. Firstly, congratulations on the successful launch of Sage Insurance! Can you share the story behind its inception and what motivated you to embark on this new venture at this stage of your career?
Thank you! Sage Insurance was established for two key reasons.
Firstly, I am committed to supporting and nurturing future business leaders. Throughout my career, I have greatly benefited from the mentorship of individuals like Neville Gibson and Damien Honan. Following the acquisition of Honan Insurance, I felt it was the right time to return past favours and assist Jasmin Gabrielli and our team build a business and create an environment worth being part of. If I can contribute to the growth and development of our team, it would be a privilege.
Secondly, I aim to provide the high level of service that our clients and connections deserve. Insurance brokers play a crucial role in facilitating businesses in their journey. We must strive to be the best we can be, ensuring that solutions are delivered effectively and efficiently.
How will you define success for Sage Insurance? What is your long-term vision?
Success will be measured by the feedback we receive from our people and our clients. Our guiding principle is to be authentic in the way we treat each other. From an insurance perspective, our clients need to experience great claims results and in a timely manner – this is the reason we exist.
Our long-term vision is to become a respected full-service national insurance broker that consistently delivers results. Ultimately, we will be judged by our actions.
We simply need to be courteous, considerate, and diligent in our work – ensuring each task is complete to the best of our abilities. Our focus is on the care we extend to our clients, that is the difference we are striving for.
What trends do you see shaping the future of the insurance industry, and how is Sage preparing for them?
There is no doubt ever-increasing developments in technology will help shape the future. We need to navigate the use of technology without losing the personal human connection that is imperative in our society.
Reflecting on your journey, can you share a significant challenge you have faced and a key achievement you are particularly proud of?
Challenges are what define us. A major loss for a client can have devastating consequences for their business, and this is when our expertise is truly tested. If coverage is inadequate or actions are insufficient, the impact can be severe. I have been involved with several total losses, including instances where properties have burnt to the ground. Working tirelessly with insurers to ensure timely resolutions has kept me awake many nights, but the gratitude expressed by those clients has been incredibly rewarding. These experiences have fostered lasting friendships and reaffirmed my commitment to this industry.
My life so far in insurance is an extension of the way I conduct myself as a whole. It is for others to judge me. In the meantime, I will do the best I can with the tools provided to me.
