In April 2024, JMD Ross Insurance Brokers celebrated 45 years in business.
John and Mary Anne Duncan established JMD Insurances Pty Ltd in April 1979, using their family initials to form the name.
At that time, John had already enjoyed a lengthy insurance career of 28 years, having started working at Farmers & Graziers Co-operative Grain Insurance & Agency Co Ltd in July 1953. He left as a senior city inspector at the end of 1981 to join Mary Anne in the family business.
Mary Anne was JMD Ross’s financial controller and company secretary for 27 years.
After humble beginnings in the Duncan family home, the company moved first to Spring St, in Sydney’s CBD, in 1983. As the company grew and needed more room and parking, it moved to 51 Chandos St, St Leonards, and then to its current offices, at 1 Chandos St, in 1994.
The name Ross was added after Tim Ross joined the company in October 1988, followed by his brother, Sandy, in February 1990.
Astute acquisitions
In 1994, JMD Ross joined the Austbrokers network, and Austbrokers remains a major shareholder. Joining the network gave the firm the ability to expand via a series of astute acquisitions.
John and Mary Anne’s elder son, John G Duncan, entered the family firm in May 1985.
John had joined the industry in 1977 and had already gained experience in Australia and worked in London as a Lloyd’s broker. Returning to Australia in 1982, he joined an international brokerage, before embarking on his career with JMD Ross, where he is now CEO.
John snr, now 92, remains chair of the board and still comes into the office for meetings.
John Davaine joined JMD Ross in 2016 and was elevated to a directorship in 2017. He was the first executive director who was not a member of the Duncan or Ross families. John is now Managing Director.
Business principles
In 2022, renowned financial lines broker Bhavesh Radiya joined the board to form the current leadership team.
John jnr says the company remains true to the principles established by his parents 45 years ago.
His father’s business philosophy is always that the personal touch is vital. “Every client is a person, not a policy number,” is the mantra he taught to team members.
Professional advice and the personal touch are JMD Ross hallmarks. Some clients have been with the company since its launch and others are the children, even grandchildren, of early clients.
JMD Ross was originally a traditional brokerage, with mainly SME clients. Its growth, particularly with the advent of the Ross brothers and subsequent directors, has seen it develop strongly in the corporate and financial lines sectors.
Longevity of service
Today there are 25 employees and the company continues to grow. Longevity of tenure is part of the JMD Ross culture, with three team members enjoying more than 20 years’ service and several others now having been part of JMD Ross for more than a decade.
JMD Ross also has a global focus. Being a member of two international broker networks enables the company to facilitate multinational or global programs to meet clients’ evolving needs.
JMD Ross Insurance Brokers can help you mitigate against risks by providing insurance solutions.
To discuss your risk management and insurance requirements, please contact:
- John Davaine M: 0413 610 523 E: jdavaine@jmdross.com.au
- John G Duncan M: 0418 976 772 E: jgduncan@jmdross.com.au
- Bhavesh Radiya M: 0414 247 055 E: bradiya@jmdross.com.au