Appointments

There have been a few new additions to the MUA family in 2012. Find out more about our new recruits below…

 

We really enjoy adding a new member to the MUA family and this month, Rene Van Der Westhuizen joins MUA on a contract positions as a Claims administrator in the Johannesburg branch. Her new role involves servicing brokers with the entire claims process from the registering phase right through to the settling stage. Rene is very enthusiastic about her new temporary role and aims to achieve her Service Level Agreement with excellence. Welcome to the family!

 

Sadly we occasionally have to say farewell to staff as they move onto other opportunities: Sanele Magibili and Petunia Appana from the Johannesburg Claims team, we wish you both the best of luck in all your future endeavours.

What is your previous experience before being appointed as the Executive Head: Finance for MUA?
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PwC, I gained experience in auditing, the motor industry, banking, and most recently, the wine industry.

 

What are your roles and responsibilities as the Executive Head: Finance?
I will be responsible for planning and controlling the company's overall financial plans and policies, accounting practices and relationships with lending institutions, shareholders and the financial community.  I will also have to develop appropriate accounting and statistical procedures for preparing financial reports and maintaining fiscal records, and to appraise operating results in terms of costs, budgets, operating policies, trends and increased profit opportunities.

 

How did your previous industry experience assist you in this role?
In my career so far, I've gained valuable experience in financial management and I believe that this will stand me in good stead at MUA.  Although the insurance industry is very different to, for instance, the wine industry, the fundamentals of financial management stays the same, regardless of industry.

 

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges in your position?
The biggest challenge for me personally would be to learn as much as I can about the insurance industry and to apply my previous working experience and knowledge to my new position.  I look forward to doing this!

 

What is your advice to people wanting work in the Finance department?
Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty and always be willing to learn.

 

What is your favorite way to relax after work?
Kick off my shoes, turn on some music, watch the sunset and spending time with my wife.

 

MUA Insurance Acceptances has grown considerably this month with the appointment of three new employees and a promotion for one of our stalwarts.

 

San-Mare van Zyl, who originally joined the company in 2006 to head up MUA’s Household division, is to assume the role of Regional Manager: Western and Eastern Cape. She is well known to many of our brokers and has amassed 15 years of experience in the industry, previously working at Thatch Risk Acceptances, ABSA Brokers and an independent brokerage.

 

Delouise Marais has also been appointed as the new Regional Manager: Gauteng. Marais also joins MUA with 15 years of experience in the insurance industry having worked as a new business consultant, branch manager and finally as Head of Personal Lines for Pinion Insurance Brokers.

 

In addition, MUA welcomes two further new members to the Gauteng branch.Wendy Armstrong has joined the Claims team as a Claims Administrator and Nonagugu Sibindi has joined us in the underwriting department.

 

While we are excited about the new additions to our team we must also acknowledge the hard work and success of two outgoing employees.

 

Leigh Friend, Regional Manager of Gauteng and Mel Barthus, Regional Manager: Western and Eastern Cape, will both be very much missed at MUA. Both Friend and Barthus made a huge contribution in the growth of their respective divisions and we are confident that they will continue to see the same level of success in their new roles.