News Release 22 March 2001
Farmers' Mutual Group Appoints New National Claims Manager
Farmers' Mutual Group, New Zealand's leading rural financial services provider, has appointed James Gerrie to the newly
created position of National Claims Manager.
Mr Gerrie, who was formerly National Claims Manager for AA-GIO Insurance in Auckland, will head the claims division at
the Group's head office in Palmerston North.
He will be responsible for the management of all claims settlement processes.
"James has a strong background in claims management having worked for a number of insurance providers in England and New
Zealand over the past 12 years. Previous to his work at AA-GIO, James held positions at Churchill Insurance, Boncaster
Insurance, C.G.A Insurance Brokers and Colonial Mutual General Insurance where he held his first claims management role
in 1988," said General Manager Business Processing Mark Buxton.
Born and raised in Wellington, James was educated at Rathkeale College and joined the Air Force after college,
completing three years of training before being posted as an aircraft technician to the operational base at Ohakea.
"Farmers' Mutual Group has experienced a strong uptake in General Insurance this year following the development new and
specialised products such as Lifestyle Block insurance and Catastrophe cover for our rural client base.
With his strong understanding of rural insurance in England, James brings valuable international experience to Farmers'
Mutual Group, which will contribute to the further development of our claims management processes.
Mr Gerrie is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Management from the Open University in the United
Kingdom and will be transferring the certificate to Massey University for completion.
ENDS
Farmers' Mutual Group
Farmers' Mutual Group is New Zealand's leading rural financial services organisation. Established in 1905 as a rural
insurer, it has grown into a financial services group adding finance and investment to its portfolio of services but has
remained focused on serving the needs of rural communities.