Tower hit a major anniversary as 2024 marks the insurance company’s 150th year in Fiji.
“We haven’t just grown, we’ve continued to innovate.
150 years ago, our policies were paper only.
Now, we are the first insurer in the Pacific that allows people to manage their insurance online, all via My Tower, our self-service, digital platform,” said Tower chief executive officer, Blair Turnbull.
In a press release, Mr Turnbull thanked customers, partners and teams for their support toward Tower for the last century and a half.
“We are launching a programme of initiatives and events throughout 2024, to celebrate this significant milestone,” he said.
“First up is the official opening of our brand-new Suva hub on Wednesday 14 February a modern work environment, featuring the latest in workplace technology.
“Our Suva hub has long been the heart of our Pacific operations and this new building is an investment that demonstrates our commitment to Fiji.”
Climate resilience
Mr Turnbull, in the statement, also said that Tower had been confidently managing the risks to the changing climate.
“This is especially important for a region already prone to weather events, particularly cyclones,” he said.
“From the moment we started in Fiji, we’ve been unwavering in our support of Fijian communities from covering everyday accidents, but also enduring catastrophic weather events.
“More recently in 2016, Cyclone Winston, the strongest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere devastated the country.
Roughly 40 per cent of Fiji’s population were impacted, with 32,000 homes destroyed or damaged and 132,000 people displaced.
“We were privileged to play an integral part in Fiji’s response following Cyclone Winston, paying out FJ$9m to our customers, supporting communities and businesses to recover.”
Tower’s statement said it was investing in local talent and technology with the goal of increasing insurance accessibility, coverage and ultimately resilience.
“In 2023 we launched Cyclone Response Cover in Fiji, an innovative parametric product for local communities and small businesses,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Since then, we have rolled Cyclone Response Cover out across Tonga and Samoa, with plans to expand the product into the Cook Islands. Key to our success is partnering with global specialists including Celsius Pro and of course, the United Nations.”
Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj