Meet the team

André Louw

Chairperson

As the Chair of Howden New Zealand, it's my job to ensure we set exceptional standards

André Louw is the Chair of Howden Australia and Howden New Zealand. He has more than 30 years’ insurance broking experience, specialising in financial and professional lines insurance.

Before Howden, André was Chairman of Marsh for the Pacific Region and for JLT for Australia and New Zealand. As an admitted Australian solicitor, he takes a particular interest in professional liability claims. He’s negotiated several PI claims of more than $100m each.

Brian Gillatt

Head of Group Risk

Nobody, except your insurance professional, supports you like a quality risk adviser does when you need it. I am passionate to be that person for you.

T +64 21 227 4764
E [email protected]

Brian has worked in the insurance and more broadly the people risk consulting and broking industry for over 17 years both with individuals as well as inside an insurance company. Prior to joining Howden, Brian delivered risk solutions to business people as a consultant to Marsh Brokers.
Brian is well known to be an individual who listens and provides tailored solutions for those that he works for. As a market leader, it has been recognised that when Brian presents risk based solutions, they are carefully considered and designed to meet each clients’ specific need.
Brian is proud to be different. Being a ‘risk’ partner for his clients drives him towards excellence. He wants to support his team to reach excellence across their business, be it personal or corporate. When things go wrong, Brian fights for his clients so that they are cared for when the need is there.

Cliff McCord

CEO Howden Care

I am first and foremost a people person. I believe that good people will attract good clients, leading to fruitful long-term relationships. I want to make sure that our people have the tools and resources to deliver upon the promises we make to clients, and to steer them to a superior outcome, and excellence in customer service.

Cliff brings a strong commitment to placing the wellness of his clients and his team at the centre of his decision making, which along with his extensive management experience, gives Howden Care a strong foundation.
Prior to joining Howden, Cliff spent over 20 years at Wellnz - a workplace claims management, rehabilitation and wellness business - where he progressed from case management through to ultimately becoming the CEO. During his 6 years as CEO, Wellnz experienced extremely strong growth.

Denise Stuart

Partner, Operations

What an exciting time to be part of this team of talented, committed individuals to rethink and reimagine the rehabilitation experience - putting people at the centre of what we do.

Denise brings over 20 years' experience in the ACC environment, learning and development, operational strategy and project management. Denise has worked with employers in a variety of sectors, across all areas of employee health and the ACC Accredited Employer Programme, consulting with them to create specialised solutions to meet their individual needs. As a qualified nurse and Case Management specialist she supports clients through the AEP application process, audits and the day-to-day implementation of their program.

Elmar Nel

Head of Financial Lines

T +64 21 453 865
E [email protected]

Elmar Nel, originally from South Africa, has 10 years of in-depth experience in New Zealand. With a degree in Law, he has the background and credentials to advise clients with the best insurance protection. His areas of core expertise include environmental liability, directors and officers and professional indemnity.
Elmar's mission is to treat every customer like family. He brings the benefit of his in-depth relationships with key insurers and believes that good service is good business and that every customer's perception is his reality.

Fergus Rolston

Partner, Business Relations

Howden is a company that walks the talk. When we say we put people first, it’s not a corporate slogan, it genuinely empowers people to be innovative and create better outcomes for our clients.

Fergus brings over 16 years of experience in injury management, ACC, and employee health management. Fergus has worked in all aspects of the injury management industry as a Case Manager, People Leader, Technical and Review Advocate, Account Manager and Business Development Manager.

Marijke Von Molendorff

Head of Central

T +64 27 319 9462
E [email protected]

Marijke’s extensive experience and expertise in the insurance industry spans back to the commencement of her career in 1996. Marijke immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand in 2012. Prior to joining Howden, Marijke was the Team Leader for FinPro Central Region at Marsh New Zealand where her client base included large corporate and government entities and required her skills as a specialist liability/financial lines broker. She and her team specialised in Professional Indemnity, Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, Construction Liability and associated Financial Lines insurance needs. Prior to this, she held roles as a specialist Financial Lines insurance broker at international broking houses.
Marijke also served tenure as a client, where she was responsible and looked after the insurance portfolio of a very large government entity as their insurance manager, including managing the large property portfolio. This valuable experience exposed Marijke to walk in the shoes of her clients. She is passionate about her team and clients and always strives to go the extra mile.
Marijke is leading the Central Region team and will ensure collaboration to the advantage of our clients in both risk management and risk financing.

Margaret Rooks

Regional General Counsel

As a trusted advisor, it is no longer satisfactory to be able to get you out of hot water. It is essential to establish a comprehensive supporting framework which allows you to avoid it in the first place.

As Regional General Counsel, Margaret brings over 20 years of insurance industry experience working with a number of global insurers, global brokers and most recently supporting a start-up underwriting agency through its exponential growth phase. This experience includes insurance litigation, corporate restructuring, M&As, compliance and risk management, navigating regulatory reform and corporate governance.

Matt Bacon

CEO Howden Pacific

Matt is the CEO of HowdenPacific. Originating from the UK, Matt has spent his time in the insurance industry working in a variety of management, operational, business development and underwriting roles across both broking houses and underwriters in Australia and the UK. Prior to joining Howden, Matt was the CEO of Marsh’s Mercer Marsh Benefits business in the Pacific and JLT’s People Risk Consulting business.

Rachel Doody

Partner, Business Relations

I love being part of a team who are all incredible experts and extremely passionate about delivering the absolute best in class service for our clients, whilst at all times looking after each other. We have the autonomy and support to continuously challenge the status quo and bring new innovation to the way we deliver services.

Rachel brings a wealth of experience and comprehensive knowledge of injury and illness risk, prevention and management. As a qualified and registered Physiotherapist, with private and public clinical experience, Rachel is an expert in partnering with organisations to collaboratively design tailored health, safety, wellbeing and injury management programs which deliver results.
Her comprehensive experience is complimented by an extensive vocational consulting background across a wide range of sectors both in Australia and New Zealand, including aviation, warehousing, transport, retail and healthcare.
Rachel is passionate about supporting organisations to create safe workplaces, which support employees to maximise their health, wellbeing and productivity and minimise the impact of injury and illness.

René Hattingh

Head of Technical Delivery

I am looking forward to working with our hand-picked team here in New Zealand, to provide greater choice to prospective staff, clients, and underwriters.

T +64 27 319 9423
E [email protected]

René Hattingh brings a people and client first ethos, backed up by significant broking expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit.
René has more than 30 years’ insurance experience with nearly 21 years at international broking houses. During this time, René has held various management and senior leadership positions.
She holds a legal degree with specialisation in insurance law, she is a liability specialist, a trusted advisor in technical and complex Professional Indemnity, D&O and Liability Insurance.

Stephanie Bennett

Partner, Operations

At Howden, People First is more than a slogan – it’s the way we approach everything we do. It’s empowering to be part of a company that invests in their people and lets them get on with challenging the status quo to create better solutions for their clients.

Stephanie has worked in injury management for more than 18 years across a diverse range of claim types and roles, and has particular expertise in the ACC Accredited Employer Program. She utilises her extensive experience to partner with her clients to not only manage their work injuries, but also identify opportunities and solutions to help them to look after the wider health and wellbeing of their employees. Stephanie has worked with a variety of employers ranging from the health sector, government and primary industry to retail and manufacturing. Her 9 years of management experience brings proven capabilities in operations, leadership and coaching.