SATIB Insurance Brokers come of age

With 21 years in the tourism and insurance sectors, locally-based SATIB Insurance Brokers has truly come of age, having established themselves as one of Southern Africa’s leading tourism risk management companies.

From humble beginnings, SATIB Insurance Brokers now has nine regional branch offices throughout Africa, and is responsible for the insurance placement of assets cover of over R20 billion on an annual basis.

Founded in 1990 by Umhlanga-based Brian Courtenay, the company has seen enormous growth and diversification, while their core business and principals remain firmly in place.  Now falling under the umbrella of the Ivory Group, the business is still very much a family affair with Brian having largely handed over the reins to his sons Gavin and Anthony Courtenay.  While Brian still remains Chairman of the Ivory Group and a shareholder, Gavin is the Managing Director of SATIB Insurance Brokers and Anthony the CEO the Ivory Group.   When Gavin and Anthony joined their father in 1996, after completing their respective studies, there were just six people, while their current staff complement is now 86.

“As a young boy I would accompany my late father, Peter, on business trips to the Kruger Park – he insured the infrastructure/shops in the Park. Twenty one years ago I decided to follow the family tradition and sold my insurance broking practice and specialised in the Wildlife and Tourism arena.  My business was my passion and from humble beginnings (myself and a secretary) we’ve grown to branch offices in Southern Africa and  offices in Africa! In my journey over these 21 years I have clients that have become family friends and we all share a common passion for the environment and wildlife and the preservation of our natural heritage,” said Brian Courtenay.

SATIB Insurance Brokers see it as their mission to provide specialist insurance broking and risk management services to their clients, underwriters and related industry associations in sub-Saharan Africa, thereby ensuring peace of mind in terms of risk transfer. They strive to lead the industry through constant innovation, service delivery and efficient claims settlement within these specialist business sectors, whist developing and promoting sustainable business practices within their areas of influence.

And, they are currently on target, with SATIB Insurance Brokers being responsible for the risk management of many huge players in the tourism and hospitality industry in Southern African.  Some clients include the V&A Waterfront, Melrose Arch, Wilderness Safaris, De Beers, Growthpoint, Signature Life Hotels, Mala Mala, GWM and Decofurn.

Commenting on their relationship with SATIB Insurance Brokers over the years, Russel Friedman, Founding Partner of Wilderness Safaris had this to say, “SATIB have delivered a dedicated service and developed the right cover for our growing needs, they have treated us as a partner and not just another client they can obtain revenue from, and have understood the necessity for specialist insurance in the travel industry.”

The company was initially established as Wildlife Broking Services back in 1990, where founder Brian Courtenay moved from a general brokerage to focus specifically on the insurance requirements of the then developing wildlife industry.  In 1992 SATIB was established to meet the growing demands of the tourism and hospitality industries.  In 1996 Glenrand MIB, a JSE-listed financial services group, acquired a controlling interest in the company, but in 2004 a management buyout took place where shares were purchased back.  The idea for establishing the Ivory Group was born in 2008, with the various divisions of SATIB being separated and new companies being formed.  A major shift came in 2009 when Wildlife Financial Brokers changed its name to the Ivory Group, and UK-based specialist insurer Marketform acquired 15% strategic investment in the holding company.

While SATIB Insurance Brokers continues to remain a specialist insurance broker, leveraging off their 21 years of experience in the Tourism and Leisure industry, their other areas of expertise have extended to include Commercial & Industrial, Life & Investment, Domestic and Wildlife.

Commenting on the exceptional growth that their company has enjoyed over the last 21 years, Gavin Courtenay said, “It’s been an honour and a privilege to work in and serve a dynamic industry such as the tourism industry in Africa with such amazing clients and colleagues over the years. To see SATIB Insurance Brokers grow and develop alongside our target tourism, hospitality and leisure industries has been very special. I look forward to our company continuing to add real value to clients and the industry for another 21 years .”

While still actively involved in SATIB Insurance Brokers and the Ivory Group, Brian Courtenay is now shifting his focus to establishing the SATIB Trust, which will embrace his passion for conservation and will be committed to protecting the environment.  Over the years, SATIB Insurance Brokers have sponsored various conservation, community and environmental projects in Southern Africa, and a decision made by the shareholders of SATIB has seen the registration of a non-profit/charitable organisation (NPO).  The SATIB Trust will enable their company to actively and legally pursue donor funding from local and international organisations for the benefit of conservation, environmental and community projects in Africa.

SATIB Insurance Broker’s South African offices are based in KwaZulu-Natal (Umhlanga, Durban – Head Office), Gauteng (Fourways, Johannesburg), Mpumalanga (Nelspruit), Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Western Cape (Century City, Cape Town); while their African Branch Offices are located in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They also have Africa Correspondent Offices where SATIB Insurance Brokers has representative  insurers in Angola, Comoros, DRC, Djibouti Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda.

SATIB Insurance Brokers’ key personnel includes Gavin Courtenay (Managing Director, focusing on Business Development), Gavin George (Executive Director focusing on Gauteng, Limpopo & Mpumalanga. Dieter Prinsloo (Executive Director focusing on the Western Cape & Eastern Cape), Julian Freimond (Executive Director focusing on Wildlife), Andre du Toit (Operational Director focusing on Operational Management and KZN), William Croxton (Director focusing on SATIB Commercial[dd1]  & Industrial), Kevin Watson (Non-Executive Director) and Anthony Courtenay (Non-Executive Director).

SATIB Insurance Brokers’ head office is based in Somerset Park in Umhlanga Rocks and can be contacted on 0861 728 4248.