The JMD Ross Insurance Brokers board is changing with the retirement of veteran broker Tim Ross and the elevation of Bhavesh Radiya to a directorship.
Tim Ross (right), whose broking specialisations include the tourism and travel industry, had been with JMD Ross for 34 years, having joined in October 1988.
The business was then known as JMD Insurances Pty Ltd, named after the initials of the founders, John J Duncan and his wife Mary Anne, who established the company in April 1979. John J Duncan remains chair of the board and his son John G Duncan is CEO.
When Tim Ross joined, the corporate identity changed to JMD Ross. His brother, Sandy Ross, later joined the company as an authorised representative and became an equity partner and director in 1990. Sandy remains a JMD Ross consultant.
With Tim Ross vacating the managing director’s role, fellow director John Davaine has been appointed MD.
Financial lines specialist
Bhavesh (above left), who specialises in financial lines, rejoined JMD Ross as a corporate authorised representative (CAR) in March 2019. He previously worked for the company as a broking assistant from 2005 to 2010 before joining another brokerage for nine years, where he honed his skills in professional and financial lines and eventually became that company’s general manager.
Over the past 3-1/2 years, Bhavesh has built his CAR business to more than 200 clients, working closely with them to facilitate professional indemnity, directors & officers and other financial risk insurances.
He is excited to be taking another step with JMD Ross in joining the board and helping to set the company’s long-term strategic direction but says there will be no radical changes. “It’s business as usual for staff, clients and the business.”
CEO John G Duncan paid tribute to Tim’s exceptional career in the insurance industry and the sound guidance he gave JMD Ross for so many years. “Tim is highly respected in the insurance industry and by his many long-term clients.”
John welcomed Bhavesh to the board, saying his skills will be beneficial for JMD Ross. “His focus is always what’s best for the client. He’s trusted, transparent, and engages well with clients. He has agile thought processes to find solutions for complex placements.”
Core values
John said Bhavesh has always shared the fundamental JMD Ross core values of integrity and professionalism.
For Tim, insurance placements now take a back seat and he will focus on his personal interests, which include travelling, playing golf and tennis, photography, following rugby union, and cultivating his large collection of vintage fountain pens.
Tim said from the day he joined JMD he appreciated that “the culture matched my thoughts on how an insurance brokerage should operate and that has never changed.
“That culture is a key reason why JMD Ross has been so successful.”