Get to know Connor McFarlane

What’s your role at Chubb Life and what does a typical workday look like for you?

As Strategic Accounts Manager, I lead the Key Relationship Consultant team (KRCs) to ensure we’re delivering a great Adviser experience and efficiently moving all applications through the pipeline, from submission to issue.

We do this by working with Advisers on active pipeline management and prioritisation, coordination and escalation with our Underwriting and New Business teams, and by getting our hands dirty to create quotes, issue policies and solve any number of existing business queries that are raised.

I’m also focused on how we continue to evolve our ways of working, processes and systems to facilitate the ongoing growth journey that Chubb Life is on.

How does the KRC team support Advisers?

We see Advisers as our partners in our mission to get more New Zealanders covered, sooner. A strong relationship between Advisers and the KRCs is key to providing customers a positive experience and fair outcome.

Do you have any tips for Advisers?

Our team are extremely knowledgeable about our products, processes and systems so utilise that expertise to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your working relationship with Chubb Life. For example, we can help you get the right key words into your emails for faster “auto classification”, brainstorm potential solutions for a unique customer situation and help keep on top of your open applications.

Why is advice so important?

To most New Zealanders, insurance is a complex, scary and misunderstood thing. This can leave people uninsured or with the wrong cover. From my experience with my own Adviser, and seeing the great work all of our Advisers do with our customers, they simplify the buying process, instil trust in their customers and are there for us in the often difficult times when a claim is made.

What’s your favourite thing about working with Advisers?

Advisers want the same thing as us: to ensure more New Zealanders have the insurance cover they need for when things go wrong. I love the energy that creates and how Advisers push us to deliver fair and positive outcomes in a timely manner for their customers.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

If a sport’s on, I’m likely watching it. I’ve recently taken up golf, and I love to travel and explore. My wife and I are new to Auckland so we’re enjoying exploring the city, including eating a lot of delicious food.

Do you have any surprising or unusual skills?

I wish I had something fun to say! Maybe this is the wakeup call I need to get myself a party trick.