Beaten and bruised: why recovery is critical to surviving cyber-attacks 4 April 2018 - NBR Business Reporter talks to MD Ian Pollard about the impact of cyber attacks. "No one can hide from cyber but what matters is bouncing back", Delta Insurance chief executive Ian Pollard says. Even if they load the right software, brief their staff and don’t click on strange emails, companies must prepare for a cyber-breach. It's inevitable. The headlines show companies being hit every day by cyber-criminals, from the well-defended to the wide open. Even Facebook can’t hold on to its data – and don’t get experts started on the weak security of government databases. Read more
Craig Kirk talks to FST Media on industry disruptors 26 March 2018 - As co-founder and general manager of Delta Insurance, one of the rising stars of New Zealand’s burgeoning specialist insurance industry, Craig Kirk has been a key driving force behind the company's digital-focused agenda. Large incumbent insurers are the first to admit that they don’t have the DNA or the systems flexibility to be able to drive the change that is needed in the industry. This is where insurtechs have a massive role to play. Technology lies at the heart of the Delta brand, not only in the systems that power its core business operations, but also in Read more
Ian Pollard podcast on evolving cyber insurance and online threats 6 March 2018 - Ian Pollard discusses a concerning new white paper on the state of cyber security in New Zealand. But on a more positive note, he also talks about how cyber insurance is evolving to meet the threats. Cyberattacks are one of the most dangerous threats facing New Zealand businesses. That isn’t exactly news to, well, anyone. But what is news is this: a new white paper from Delta Insurance highlights just how serious the issue is – and the fact many businesses aren’t doing enough to protect themselves despite the fact Aotearoa is a prime target Read more
New Zealand is one of the ‘Cyber Five’ APAC countries most at risk of cyber attacks 5 March 2018 - New Zealand is one of Asia Pacific’s ‘Cyber Five’ for the most vulnerable countries to cyber attacks despite increased cyber resilience capabilities and strategies to deal with them. That is what a new paper from Delta Insurance claims, citing the Global Cybersecurity Index that puts New Zealand in 19th place for its commitment to cybersecurity. The ‘Cyber Five’ includes New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore – countries that are apparently at risk of attacks more than any other Asian economy. “New Zealand’s global information footprint is on the rise and our increased dependencies Read more
NZ behind Australia on cyber protection 2 March 2018 - Ian Pollard talks to Kelly McGregor on Delta's latest white paper on cyber security: Delta Insurance released a white paper on cyber insurance threats to Kiwi businesses yesterday, stating that just 6% of New Zealand SMEs have cyber insurance compared to 14% in Australia. Delta co-founder and director Ian Pollard said although New Zealand was tackling cyber risk and building resilience, the risk was still there because “we’re connected, we’re tech savvy, and we’ve been protected from a lot of traditional risk because of geography – that’s not the case now.” “The risks have Read more
The launch our new Cyber white paper and comprehensive Cyber cover 1 March 2018 - Delta Insurance Press Release: Here’s how to protect yourself from one of the greatest threats of 2018. Cyberattacks are one of the most dangerous threats facing New Zealand businesses. They are also – along with nuclear weapons and radical terrorism – considered one of the most dangerous global threats, according to US intelligence heads. Today, Delta Insurance has released research in their new white paper revealing the extent of the risks, and showing how businesses can protect themselves. It has also released an updated Cyber Insurance product, which offers cover including of Cloud and network failure, Read more
Cyberattack risks rise – how can NZ react to the changing landscape? 31 January 2018 - Cyber threats have become the risk of the century and if cyber security is one step behind these threats then cyber insurance is two steps behind, believes Munich Re. “Risk managers of large institutions already consider cyberattacks to be a severe risk, and therefore have insurance policies to address this. We are now seeing more and more small companies asking for cyber cover, especially after the latest large-scale attacks,” the insurance giant stated. Closer to home, Delta Insurance director Ian Pollard said his business is preparing a white paper on cyber threats, as well as reworking its cyber insurance policies Read more Delta becomes founding member of Insurtech Working Group 15 December 2017 - The New Zealand Financial Innovation and Technology Association (FinTechNZ) has created an insurtech working group in response to the huge level of interest from the insurance industry. FinTechNZ is setting up a number of “vertical” areas of focus and associated working groups to promote engagement within multiple areas of interest across the community. Insurance was identified as a key segment where there is a huge amount of scope for further innovation. "New Zealand financial technology is the fastest-growing segment of our tech sector, at 48.5% per annum, and insurtech is an integral part of the Read more 
Delta joins working group established to lead insurance technology revolution 6 December 2017 - FinTechNZ has created an Insurtech working group in response to a huge level of interest from the insurance industry. The New Zealand Financial Innovation and Technology Association (FinTechNZ) was established early this year to bring together an inclusive community of financial service providers, technology innovators, government regulators and other interested parties. Its key focus is connecting industry participants to promote and advance financial innovation and technology for the prosperity of New Zealanders. To complement its breadth of ‘horizontal’ engagement across the diverse financial services sector as ‘one inclusive community’, FinTechNZ is setting up a number Read more
Singapore’s First Automated Online Insurance Platform 23 November 2017 - Today Delta Insurance Singapore launched DeltaDigital.sg, Singapore’s first online Financial Lines insurance platform. Using proprietary technology, DeltaDigital offers brokers/advisors and policy buyers instant quotes for commercial (corporate) insurance products such as Cyber, Professional Liability, Technology Professional Liability and Management Liability. With DeltaDigital, insurance brokers/advisors can generate a quote instantly to present to buyers, such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), who no longer have to go through the slow and complicated process of completing a physical proposal form. While the process traditionally can take up to several weeks, DeltaDigital is able to generate a quote Read more
Underwriting Agency of the Year 16 November 2017 - We are delighted to have won the inaugural award for Underwriting Agency of the Year at the ANZIIF Awards held at the SkyCity Convention Centre. Managing Director Ian Pollard accepted the award on behalf of Delta and acknowledged the Delta team in his speech: “Many thanks to ANZIIF for this award. This is truly humbling and is a reflection of the dedication, blood, sweat and tears from all at Delta Force over the last five years. We would like to thank each one of our amazing team in order of tenure: from our Board and Read more
Fun times at the Singapore Fintech Festival 15 November 2017 - As a founding member of Fintech NZ, General Manager Craig Kirk joined the delegation of industry experts to attend the Fintech Festival in Singapore. This was a fantastic way to showcase the technological innovation occurring within the New Zealand financial services industries. One of the key outcomes of the trip was that FintechNZ has joined the ASEAN Fintech Network. Craig was also busy on the Delta stand with the Singapore team - Eugene Cheong, Managing Director; Serena Lee, Financial Lines Manager; and Cecilia Lim, Finance & Office Manager - showcasing Delta products and technology to Read more
Life in the fast lane 9 November 2017 - The Deloitte Fast 50 Awards night was a night of inspiration, enthusiasm and pragmatism. The stories of these Fast 50 companies were a fantastic display of Kiwi vision and can-do attitude. At Delta, we feel honoured and privileged to be amongst these incredible companies and are immensely proud to be the 34th fastest growing company in New Zealand in 2017. Managing Director Ian Pollard and General Manager Craig Kirk accepted the award on behalf of the Delta team. 
A mighty fine day at the races 7 November 2017 - The dapper crew congregated at Fort Street for a few looseners before heading to Ellerslie for the main event. A sun-soaked day and a prime location beside the track assisted with the festivities. Congrats to Jasper for being the man about town and making it to the finals of the Melbourne Cup Day Style Awards. Looking suave! Also congratulations go to Ashley Greer from Apex and Sammy Chan from Willis for winning the Delta Best Dressed Awards. Although the day didn’t quite match the last-race bonanza from last year, at least Ian acted on a Read more
Comprehensive cover for the Manufacturing industry 6 November 2017 - The New Zealand manufacturing sector is experiencing strong growth, with exports of $49 billion last year, according to Statistics New Zealand. However, increased competition in the sector has required innovation and new product development and this has in turn given rise to its own challenges, such as heightened scope for product design defects and quality control issues. In the food segment, we continue to see regular product recalls, with about 40 food products being recalled in New Zealand so far this year. Additionally, embedded technology in equipment and machinery means that these products are now Read more
High tech on the Mainland 14 September 2017 - As the largest insurance provider for New Zealand’s technology sector, Delta was on hand at the Canterbury Tech Summit to keep abreast of the latest developments in technology. Karl Samson, our South Island Portfolio Manager, was joined by John Moore, our Senior Underwriter & Financial Lines Manager, at the Summit. Hot topics that were discussed included bitcoins, blockchains and cryptocurrency; cyber security in the Cloud; the revenue model for video production company 90 Seconds; and opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in New Zealand.
Highlighting Cyber Security Threats at The Financial Services Council conference 8 September 2017 - As part of the Financial Services Council conference on Navigating Change, Managing Director Ian Pollard was asked to moderate a panel discussion on Data Fraud and Cyber Security. He was joined by Nick Thompson from Propello, Ian Fletcher from InPhySec, Paul Ash from DPMC and Carmen Vicelich from Data Insight. Ian’s introduction to the panel discussion: “Thank you to the committee for the opportunity to be here today. For those of you who know me this is a subject that is very close to my heart; and especially the insurance solutions surrounding such (Cyber insurance Read more
Embracing technology at the ANZIIF conference 7 September 2017 - General Manager Craig Kirk was asked to lead a forum discussion at the Insurance Conference NZ in Auckland on the changing face of technology in the industry. The conference this year focused on the changes taking place with customer engagement and how it can benefit both the customer and the organisation. Topics discussed were how to improve customer experience and gain a competitive edge, how new technology can add value to the customer, and how Air New Zealand created such a successful customer experience programme. Amongst other things General Manager Craig Kirk addressed the following Read more
The ‘D word’ (Disruption) 15 August 2017 - General Manager Craig Kirk talks to ANZIIF Writer Anna Game-Lopata about FinTechNZ, the new kid on the block: New Zealand already has a very vibrant tech sector with some world-leading innovations. By nature, Kiwis are incredibly pioneering and resilient and this has created a rich entrepreneurial ecosystem of companies with a ‘can-do’ attitude who support each other. That’s according to Delta Insurance co-founder and director Craig Kirk, who is also on the Core Working Group of the New Zealand Financial Innovation and Technology Association (FinTechNZ). While Kirk concedes that the insurtech movement in New Zealand is still Read more
Delta establishes Mainland presence 11 August 2017 - A warm welcome to Karl Samson as our Delta man on the ground for the South Island. Karl has come onboard to look after our growing business and develop our existing broker relationships. Ian and Craig are delighted that Karl has decided to join the team. Says Ian: “Karl’s impressive credentials are ideally suited to this role and he is going to add a lot of value with his local knowledge. For us, it’s vital that we have someone on the ground who is 100% aware of the requirements and issues facing brokers in the Read more
Singapore expansion in the press 7 July 2017 - The launch of our Singapore office has generated some great press both in Singapore and New Zealand... The Straits Times: Delta Insurance opens for business in Singapore The Singapore Business Times: New company under Lloyd's coverholder model to offer cyber insurance Finews Asia: Insuretech Firm in Singapore launch Today Online: First dedicated cyber risk coverage for firms launched Radio New Zealand Business News: Delta taking on Asia Insurance Business: Delta launches overseas bizEDGE: Auckland tech risk management company expands to Singapore Scoop: Auckland’s Delta Insurance expands into Singapore Fintech Innovation: New Zealand-based Delta Insurance launches in Singapore Live News: Delta's Singapore launch Voxy: Delta Insurance opens Read more NBR interview: Singapore is just the start 7 July 2017 - Nathan Smith from the National Business Review talks to Managing Director Ian Pollard about the opening of their Singapore office and Delta's global growth strategy: Singapore will become the first overseas office to open in an ambitious expansion plan for Delta Insurance New Zealand. Delta Insurance supplies specialty liability insurance, UAV insurance, technology risk solutions and cyber coverage in New Zealand. The move to open in Singapore is part of its broader business strategy to grow globally and launch in 10 countries in 10 years. The locally owned and privately-held company was co-founded by managing Read more 
Delta launches Singapore office 5 July 2017 - Yesterday we were excited to launch our first overseas office in Singapore. The move is part of our broader business strategy to grow globally. Singapore was a natural next step for us due to its position as a global centre of finance, commerce and technology. There are similarities with the New Zealand Fintech and Technology industries and we believe there will also be other regional opportunities for us, using Singapore as a base. We are the first Cyber and Technology Lloyd’s Coverholder in Asia, which we think is a timely move as Singapore’s drive towards a digital economy increases the value and importance of data. "Singapore Read more
Customer Satisfaction Survey 26 June 2017 - We are always seeking ways to improve on our products and services and we sent out a customer satisfaction survey to 700 brokers in May. We were over the moon with the feedback we received and it has spurred us on to work even harder for our brokers and their clients. We achieved a Net Promoter Score of 38 (compared with the New Zealand Insurance average NPS score of 11). 98% said the quality of our service is Extremely Good or Good 97% said the quality of our products are Extremely Good or Good 97% said our Read more Insurance opportunity in wake of WannaCry 9 June 2017 - The recent global ransomware attack has highlighted the important role of the insurance industry in mitigating cyberattacks. Managing Director Ian Pollard spoke to Nerine Zoio from Insurance Business: "Ransomware attacks comprised 40% of our company’s insured cyber claims over the last 12 months. I predict the number of cyber insurers will double over the next two years (from eight to 16) and peak in 2018, making it the best time for New Zealand businesses to buy cyber insurance,” he said. “The global cyber insurance market will increase tenfold within the next eight years from US$3.5 billion Read more NZ businesses not insured for growing cyber risks 25 May 2017 - Mina Martin interviews Managing Director Ian Pollard on New Zealand business lack of interest in insuring against cyber crime: NZ businesses appear unfazed in the face of rising incidents of ransomware and other cyberattacks, as barely 5% of them have taken out cyber insurance to protect themselves against the financial and reputational repercussions of cybercrime. A Symantec report showed that New Zealand has the second highest number of ransomware attacks in the southern hemisphere, and 21st globally. Latest estimates also revealed that cybercrime costs the country between NZ$250 million and NZ$500 million, and globally US$3 Read more 
Ransomware cyber-attacks impact growing on NZ 23 May 2017 - Kip Brooks recently spoke to Managing Director Ian Pollard about the rise in ransomware in New Zealand: Barely five percent of New Zealand companies have taken out cyber insurance, despite a predicted rise in ransomware and other cyber issues, a leading New Zealand specialist underwriting agency says. Ian Pollard, Managing Director of Delta Insurance, says the total potential for the New Zealand Cyber Insurance market in time may reach $500 million in premiums. Delta is New Zealand’s only locally owned and operated specialist underwriting agency specialising in areas such as cyber, technology, environmental and UAV Read more
OECD report on an effective cyber insurance market 13 May 2017 - The OECD recently released this report on the global cyber insurance market - its coverage and potential gaps, the challenges regarding quantification of cyber risks, awareness and misunderstandings and the potential policy measures to address these challenges: The increasing use of and dependence on information technology in economic activities - while creating significant benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency - is also leading to significant risks. Among them are "digital security risks" which, when they materialise, can disrupt the achievement of economic and social objectives by compromising the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and information Read more
Award for IANZ Insurer of the Year 3 May 2017 - We're humbled to have won an award last night at the Insurance Advisernet New Zealand annual conference. To be awarded IANZ Insurer of the Year from all the AdvisorNet brokers is truly an honour for us. Many thanks to all of our friends at IANZ for this recognition. This award is for the whole team at Delta and all of our families for supporting us through our journey.
Insuring for shared airspace 6 April 2017 - The Robotic Law Journal talks to GM Craig Kirk and Sam Jennings from aviation consulting firm Jennings Consulting about the issues facing the insurance industry as this high risk group of new aviation participants with minimal aviation knowledge begin to share airspace. What is the drone industry like in New Zealand at the moment? Jennings: There are over 100 “certificated” commercial UAV operators in NZ. The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority estimates that there are an additional 400-500 commercial operators in NZ operating under the default regulatory structure. There is considerable uptake in the agricultural industry, with Read more
Significant increase in drone insurance cover 29 March 2017 - Voxy highlights the rise of drone insurance with General Manager Craig Kirk. New Zealand can expect many more people taking out drone insurance as the number of drones rapidly multiply meaning potential for accidents significantly increases. The drone industry by its nature is driven by scientific advancement, technological development and commercial entrepreneurialism, Delta Insurance general manager Craig Kirk says. Delta is New Zealand’s only locally owned and operated insurance company of its kind. New Zealand is supported by regulatory environments that promote and enable the appropriate testing and practical commercial use of drones. Kirk says if Read more
NZ needs to clean up its environmental act 16 March 2017 - GM Craig Kirk discusses the necessity for companies to be proactive about managing their environmental risks, with open source website Foreign Affairs: The increase in environmental pollution and contamination incidents in New Zealand means businesses are increasingly vulnerable to the potentially high financial cost of such events, a leading insurance expert says. Delta Insurance general manager Craig Kirk says various combinations of traditional liability policies, albeit each coming with their own exclusions, only serve to paper over environmental liability cracks. Taking a proactive risk management approach is paramount for businesses, he says. Companies must be Read more
Delta acquires naming rights at 57 Fort St 9 March 2017 - Delta Insurance has recently acquired the naming rights for their building at 57 Fort Street in the Auckland CBD, close to Queen Street and Britomart on the waterfront. We moved from the third floor to the eighth floor late last year and are enjoying our new space with views over Fort Street and out to the harbour. Please feel free to drop in to our offices for a coffee any time and say hi to the Delta team. 
One of Asia Pacific’s top 10 most promising risk management solution providers 7 March 2017 - Delta Insurance has been recognised by Hong Kong-based APAC CIO Outlook as one of the top 10 Risk Management Solution Providers in the Asia Pacific region for 2017. The following story was run in the March edition of the APAC CIO Outlook magazine. The insurance market in New Zealand is a transforming landscape, and a large part of this metamorphosis is the adoption of technology into the industry which is compelling businesses to rethink their traditional business models. It is also a complicated operating environment where businesses are exposed to strategic, operational, market, environmental and regulatory risks. Read more
Businesses urged to insure against cyber risk 27 February 2017 - Delta GM Craig Kirk talks to Computerworld's Stuart Corner about cyber risk management strategies that businesses can undertake in light of Marsh Head of Country Marcus Pearson's recent comments on the results of their recent Institute of Directors' survey: “It comes as no surprise there is frustration at the perceived slow progress of affordable, practical insurance protection for cyber related risks as insurance companies struggle to adapt to the pace of change." The article follows: Delta Insurance, which claims to be the only NZ owned specialist liability underwriting agency, is ramping up its credentials in Read more
Kiwi tech businesses must focus on risk management 26 February 2017 - Our General Manager Craig Kirk caught up with Kip Brook from Make Lemonade to discuss risk management for the thriving tech sector in New Zealand: Kiwi technology businesses need to ensure they are adopting risk management practices to remain at the forefront of the world stage, Delta Insurance says. The New Zealand technology sector has developed an outstanding global reputation for innovation, however the ever-expanding scope of emerging technology stand as both the industry’s greatest strength and weakness, Delta Insurance general manager Craig Kirk says. He says New Zealand companies should also consider tech liability Read more NZ insurance sector’s fintech engagement lacking 20 February 2017 - Craig Kirk, General Manager at Delta Insurance, has signed up to a working group for FinTechNZ, a group made up of financial innovation and technology participants who want to help connect, promote and advance the trends shaping the FinTech ecosystem as an offshoot of NZ Tech. “We’re one of the larger insurers, if not the largest insurer, of tech companies in New Zealand with our tech liability offering and closely linked with that is our cyber liability offering,” he explained. “Because of that we became members of NZTech so we could get close to our Read more 
Comprehensive insurance to meet the needs of the growing UAV industry 13 February 2017 - Today Delta Insurance launched New Zealand’s most comprehensive UAV (drone) operator’s insurance in conjunction with their sponsorship of the NZ UAV Conference held at the Auckland University of Technology. General Manager Craig Kirk and Underwriter Antonio Prgoment attended the conference and were impressed with the enthusiasm and diversity of participants within the industry. Commercial UAV technology, valued at over $127 billion globally, is seeing wholesale adoption across many New Zealand sectors including agriculture, media, film, surveying, real estate, oil & gas and logistics industries. In New Zealand there is currently no legal requirements for UAV operators to hold Read more
Navigating insurance in the tech sector 9 February 2017 - Averill Dickson, Partner at law firm Simmonds Stewart, takes time out with Delta Insurance General Manager Craig Kirk to discuss the finer points of liability insurance in the tech sector. Some excerpts from the Simmonds Stewart blog follow. When should a start-up look to take out insurance? Insurance is often a grudge purchase – even more so for tech entrepreneurs used to risk-taking. But, if used properly, it can help founders and directors sleep easy and focus on what matters most – growing their business. If you haven’t already got insurance, the times that you’ll need Read more
Top 10 Cyber predictions for 2017 8 December 2016 - Ian has had a busy 2016 addressing numerous conferences around New Zealand on cyber security. Here he gets out his crystal ball with his top ten predictions for 2017. 1. More choice with Cyber Insurance in the short term The number of Cyber Insurers will double over the next 1-2 years (from 8 to 16) and peak in 2018, making it the best time for Insureds to buy Cyber Insurance. 2. Exponential growth in Cyber Insurance The global cyber insurance market will increase tenfold within the next 8 years (from US$2.5 billion to Read more
Green talk with Uncle Sam 5 December 2016 - Ian was part of a working party invited to the American Consulate General to discuss environmental and technology issues with the US Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Sustainability is a passion of the Ambassador's and the round table discussions were far-ranging, covering a raft of environmental issues, the growth in green buildings and the role and impact of sustainable technology. Ian talked about the relationship and implications of environmental and technology issues on the insurance industry and the risk management strategies that have been adopted to manage these issues.
A heartfelt contribution to Heart Kids 26 November 2016 - Craig set off on the Taupo Steamer mountain bike marathon on 26 November. 60km of sublime trails through some of New Zealand's best scenery made up for some the pain points around the 3 and 4 hour mark! As Craig reflects on the challenge: "It was the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever had to do but I’m pleased that I did it. I'll be back next year to get under the 5 hour mark next time!" "The great news is that we collectively raised NZ$2,801 for Heart Kids, the third highest fund raiser for the event! Read more Cyber crime rise puts insurance industry at risk 18 November 2016 - Digital disruption is causing some serious soulsearching in the insurance industry - to the point where Lloyd's of London is questioning the industry's relevance. Delta Insurance managing director Ian Pollard doesn't quite agree cyber threats will be an "uninsurable risk," but he certainly notices the lines blurring between brokers and insurers because of digital disruption. "Insurers are starting to think about going more direct and brokers starting to set up agencies, even in New Zealand," he says. "Another dynamic is the non-traditional, peer-to-peer insurers using mobile technology entering the market. I would be surprised if Read more 
Melbourne Cup merriment 1 November 2016 - Everyone came dressed to the nines for a day at the races. The dapper and the dazzling descended on our offices for a leisurely champagne breakfast first and then off to Ellerslie for some sunshine, bubbles and racing. Our prime location gave us pole position to witness the horses thundering around the track and a collective flutter on the last race brought a well-received payday to cap off a fantastic day had by all!
Moving on up in the world 28 October 2016 - We moved offices today...not out, but up! To be more specific, we moved five floors up from the 3rd floor to the 8th floor and now we have a room with a view, along with more space to spread out for our growing team... and a new coffee machine to greet us after the move! Thanks Lynne, for making this the most seamless office move any of us have had. Come and visit us in our new digs!
Innovation Finalist for Insurance Industry Awards 14 September 2016 - Our Environmental and Pollution Liability product has been named a finalist for Innovation of the Year at the 2016 New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards. Our specialist environmental insurance offers an all-encompassing ‘environmental shield’ covering all pollution events that may affect a business, regardless of nature or type of pollution. We developed this environmental liability cover knowing that there was no local environmental offering in the market and that environmental liability was only going to increase in significance within New Zealand. Pollution risks are many and varied and many of these exposures are not covered under Read more Cyber Insurance: The industry carrying the heaviest load 26 August 2016 - Nathan Smith from the NBR talks to Ian Pollard about the impact of cyber on business and on the insurance companies covering cyber liability: Security folk talk about the cyber threat as not a matter of if a company is attacked, but when. Given this, companies will naturally want to purchase cyber insurance, and many insurers now offer the product. But if no company is safe, and it's only a matter of time before a breach occurs, what's going to happen if policy holders all start submitting claims at roughly the same time? This existential risk is Read more 
Insurance career at Delta was written in the stars 24 August 2016 - James, our Environmental Liability & Commercial Business Development Manager, tells Maryvonne Gray from Insurance Business that timing was a crucial factor in his career switch to insurance. Why did you get into insurance? I was an environmental consultant for 8 years post university and the firm I was working for in London had a couple of employees move to AIG who at the time were recruiting into their environmental liability department. I had planned on moving to Australia in 2004 and as luck would have it, AIG in Sydney were looking to recruit someone with Read more
Ian Pollard talks to Morning Report about the impact of cyber 15 August 2016 - Ian Pollard talks to Morning Report on Radio New Zealand about the impact of cyber liability on small business. Insurance companies are beginning to offer cyber cover as an increasing number of hackers target New Zealand’s small and medium size companies. Insurers are offering a range of support services to help companies recover from cyber attacks, with one software security company suggesting New Zealand suffers from the second highest number of ransomware attacks in the Southern Hemisphere, with more than 100 attacks a day. Managing Director of Delta Insurance, Ian Pollard, says insurance cover includes Read more
Is insurance sector ‘barking mad’ to insure cyber? 14 August 2016 - Having just heard self-professed Mr Cybersecurity Man, Andy Prow, CEO of RedShield Security, describe the perfect storm befalling the cyber security sector right now, it was no surprise that those in the insurance sector were left questioning the sanity of trying to offer cover. Prow, who used to run ethical hacking company Aura Group and now heads up RedShield which protects the New Zealand government, major banks and airlines, among others, painted a picture of an incessant and frantic bid to remain ahead of the hackers, with 28 days being the agreed lag time between Read more
Protecting against the full spectrum of Cyber Risk 11 August 2016 - Today, Delta Insurance announced it has built on the most comprehensive cyber security insurance product available in New Zealand, providing a complete solution for cyber risks across the full spectrum of risk - before, during and after any cyber incident - and supporting SMEs with free cyber security assessments. Currently there is a NZD$250-500 million cyber cost to NZ businesses per year. While the conversation around cyber security has moved on to the practical support and resources required to better protect businesses, the implementation of cyber security management plans is happening too slowly with the prevailing Read more
Data on cyber attacks needed to understand risks and drop premiums 5 May 2016 - Craig Kirk discusses the approach Delta Insurance takes when analysing insurance risk: “We look at a whole bunch of factors – how big the firm is, what industry they’re in, what level of risk management processes they have in place, whether they’re taking it seriously, how big their client base is, how much data they’re holding. It’s very much an art rather than a science at this point in time. Most of the cyber insurance policies Delta underwrites are capped at $1-2 million, but can reach $5 million. Cyber insurers say more should be Read more
New partnership doubles capacity to $30m 2 May 2016 - We have become the first local New Zealand provider to offer $30 million limits for some of our specialist liability lines of business, which is great news for both brokers and insureds. We have effectively doubled our liability cover by partnering with independent managing agent at Lloyd’s, Antares, through its Syndicate 1274. The partnership means we will become the first local Kiwi provider to offer $30 million limits for some specialist lines of business it provides coverage for – Cyber Insurance, Technology Liability, and Environmental Insurance. The additional capacity will also be available for more mainstream liability Read more
Delta expands to the capital 25 April 2016 - We have launched our Wellington branch and it will be managed by James Halfacree, who will also be our new Environmental Product Head. James was previously with our capacity partner Allied World in Sydney, where he was Vice President General Casualty with a focus on environmental liability in their Sydney office. Originally from the UK, where he gained a BSc (Hons) in Applied Environmental Geology from the University of Portsmouth, Halfacree has previously held a number of positions at AIG Australia. Most recently he was regional vice president for Asia-Pacific, where he was responsible for product Read more
Kiwi firms underestimating cyber attacks 2 March 2016 - A leading commercial insurance expert states that despite the growing number of cyber incidents in New Zealand, businesses have still been slow to respond to the situation. With only an estimated 0.3% of New Zealand businesses having cyber liability insurance, it is important that New Zealand businesses seek to embrace change outlining their existing environment, and re-assess their attitudes towards cyber-security, including their response in the case of a cyber-incident. Underestimating cyber attacks Cyber risk ‘neck and neck’ with earthquake risk for Auckland 5 December 2015 - General Manager Craig Kirk addressed the NZILA Conference on cyber risk and pointed out that Lloyd’s City Risk Index, which analyses the potential impact of various risks for 301 cities around the globe, had cyber risk “neck and neck” with earthquake risk for Auckland. “Most organisations would be insured for earthquake, but very few for cyber risks,” he said. Kirk said many overseas companies, particularly utilities with big potential business interruption costs, were buying large cyber risk programs. Cyber insurers 'generous' in interpretations 
Delta raises money for Cerebral Palsy 5 November 2015 - The team at Delta took part in Steptember, completing 10,000 steps per day for four weeks and helped to raise money for Cerebral Palsy. The total steps for the month being a massive 754,846. This month the team also took part in the Fidelity Life 5km Corporate Challenge run. It was a fun event thoroughly enjoyed by everyone – with an average running time of 29.28 seconds, the team put in a huge effort considering most were untrained. With Round the Bays in March now on our radar, we look forward to getting active again Read more
Environmental and Pollution Liability launch 5 October 2015 - In October, we launched a truly kiwi and dedicated Environmental and Pollution Policy in the New Zealand insurance market place. We held a number of events across the country, focusing on Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland – communicating with over 250 brokers. We were honoured to have Michael Lindgreen from 4Sight Consulting and James Halfacree from Allied World join us as part of the nationwide launch roadshow. The policy provides a broad range of third party and first party coverage's with a big emphasis on providing access to experts who can deal with the crisis response Read more
Ashley Madison dubbed the cyber liability ‘poster child’ 5 September 2015 - The recent hacking of the Ashley Madison website has made the controversial affair-inciting website a ‘poster child’ for cyber liability, according to a NZ-based cyber risk expert. The company that owns Ashley Madison, Avid Life Media, faces ‘absolutely catastrophic’ consequences, according to Delta Insurance general manager Craig Kirk, who was speaking on the subject of cyber risks at the New Zealand Insurance Law Association (NZILA) conference this month. Ashley Madison dubbed the cyber liability ‘poster child’
Economic impact of 18 threats in 301 countries 5 August 2015 - Lloyd’s recently launched a ground breaking new study that for the first time quantifies the potential economic impact of 18 threats on 301 of the world’s leading cities, including Auckland and Wellington. Lloyd’s City Risk Index 2015-2025 looks at the projected GDP of each city over a ten-year period and calculates how much it is at risk from manmade, natural and emerging threats. For all threats to all cities that figure totals $4.56trn, which represents a significant drag on future economic development. The Index, developed in partnership with Cambridge University’s Centre for Risk Studies, Read more
Managing Director Ian Pollard addresses ANZIIF Conference 5 July 2015 - Ian Pollard recently spoke at ANZIIF on the rise of cyber security issues and their insurability and solutions in the marketplace. Risk Rendezvous 2015 Complexity of NZ insurance industry to be examined Embracing Cyber Risk: Insurance Solutions 
Connect Smart and combat cyber attacks 5 June 2015 - A panel of New Zealand cyber risks experts including Delta Insurance’s Ian Pollard discuss the presence of cyber risks in the New Zealand workplace, the threats they pose to New Zealand businesses, and what can be done to combat cyber-attacks. The videos, launched in accordance with Connect Smart Week, aim to create awareness around cyber risks in the New Zealand workplace. Marsh and Delta Insurance are both proud members of Connect Smart, a cybersecurity initiative introduced by the National Cyber Policy Office, which aims to assist New Zealand businesses in cyber risk management and Read more
Privacy endangered by data breaches 5 June 2015 - Our sense of privacy is being endangered by the rise of data breaches, hacking and spying concerns, according to Microsoft’s chief privacy officer Brendon Lynch. Kiwi-born Lynch, argues that a new law change proposing stricter penalties for data breaches is “not the be-all, end-all” security protocol for emerging cyber risks in New Zealand. While identity theft and credit card fraud remain the top concerns facing New Zealanders, Lynch highlights the emergence of wearable technology as being a notable risk of privacy, due to the possibility of predicting people’s activity from the datasets generated from the Read more
Commentary on the Privacy Act and changing landscape 4 June 2015 - Delta Insurance Managing Director Ian Pollard discusses the changing landscape of New Zealand’s data protection laws, and the need for New Zealand businesses to respond proactively. Data Notification Laws The existing legislation in New Zealand means that companies are not legally obligated to inform customers of their personal information being compromised, should a data breach occur. However, this looks set to change in the next few years in response to a growing global reform of data protection laws. With the EU set to follow the USA’s lead in implementing stricter data notification laws, it Read more
Liability Insurance tailored for the burgeoning technology industry 5 May 2015 - Delta Insurance is pleased to announce the launch of our latest offering with our Technology Liability product in May 2015. By combining Professional Liability and General Liability coverage and specifically tailoring it to suit the needs of New Zealand’s burgeoning technology industry, we aim to deliver a flexible and modern product that encompasses the existing risks facing New Zealand tech-based companies. Delta’s Head of Financial Lines John Moore explains in greater detail the need for a revamped technology liability policy and the features of Delta Insurance’s Tech Liability product, including our unparalleled “any one claim” Read more
Ian Pollard nominated for prestigious Cyber Award 5 April 2015 - Delta Insurance Managing Director Ian Pollard has been nominated for Advisen’s Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year – International. Ian is one of 9 candidates selected globally for his continued excellence and his internationally esteemed reputation as a leading expert in the emerging cyber risks sector. The winner will be selected by a ballot voted on their peers, with the winner announced at the Advisen Annual Cyber Risks awards on June 17, held at the Grand Hyatt NYC. Two NZ cyber risk experts up for award
Safeguarding New Zealand businesses 5 March 2015 - Ian Pollard and ICIB Insurance Brokers managing director Garry Mooney discuss cyber risks in New Zealand, the limited scope of existing cyber coverage in the country, and the need for New Zealand businesses to start evaluating their cyber risk management. Insurance savvy businesses
First Cyber white paper in New Zealand 4 March 2015 - With cybercrime costing New Zealand businesses in excess of $150 million a year, the need to evaluate our cyber-security has never been greater. Hence, Delta Insurance is pleased to announce its first instalment of its Thought Leadership Series – Safeguarding Businesses from Cyber Threats. Conducted in accordance with the University of Auckland, this report outlines the existing cyber risks in the New Zealand workplace (in particular, the risks facing SMEs), risk management strategies companies can apply to reinforce their cyber-security and assesses the development of cyber liability insurance as a rising force in the insurance Read more Why Cyber? Why Now? 5 February 2015 - Cyber insurance is not new, but it is increasingly relevant, especially with new legislation in place. Craig Kirk and Ian Pollard of Delta Insurance explain that now, more than ever, is the time for cyber to be at the forefront of brokers minds. Insurance Business Video Online 
Delta Joins UAC 5 October 2014 - UAC member underwriting agencies are responsible for more than $2.5 billion of premiums spent by Australasian businesses and consumers annually. Underwriting agencies are appointed by insurers to issue policies and pay claims on their behalf.UAC members are specialists in the risk and insurance needs of their insured clients. UAC members predominantly transact through insurance brokers. UAC is committed to the security and advancement of its members and provides a forum and a voice for underwriting agencies. UAC Insurance Business Online article
Delta Insurance launches to provide choice in a contracting market 5 June 2014 - A new insurance brand, Delta Insurance, launched in New Zealand today as the only locally owned and operated specialist niche liability underwriting agency, arriving at a time when the insurance market is going through significant consolidation and change. Offering businesses a fresh and innovative insurance alternative to the increasingly generalist and ever-contracting insurance market, Delta Insurance will provide specialist niche liability alternatives for brokers and businesses. With the recent market consolidation reducing competition and choice, potentially reducing supply and driving up insurance costs in the longer term, Delta Insurance’s co-founders Ian Pollard and Craig Read more
Moderating at Advisen’s Cyber Risk Conference in Singapore 5 April 2014 - Ian Pollard, Managing Director Delta Insurance was recently an Advisory Board Member and Panel Moderator at the recent Asia Pacific Advisen Cyber Insurance Risk Conference at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on 8th April, 2014. This is the second year the event took place in Singapore and both years Ian was involved on the Advisory and Organising Committee. This event is considered the leading Cyber Insurance and Risk Event in the Asia Pacific Region. Ian himself is considered one of the leading Cyber Insurance Risk Experts in Asia Pacific and has spoken at Read more
