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“No matter how many clients I have, I make sure to call each one personally every quarter. It’s a chance to not only update them on their portfolio, but also check on how they’re doing personally”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
Eamon O’Connor didn’t set out with a carefully crafted career plan. Instead, he followed a simple but powerful philosophy: work hard and put people first and opportunities will follow.
That approach has led him to the top of New Zealand and Australia’s insurance industry, where he now stands as Insurance Business’ No. 1 Elite Broker of 2025.
For the founder and director of O’Connor Warren Insurance Brokers, success boils down to understanding people.
As a proudly New Zealand-owned brokerage providing insurance programs to Kiwi businesses and individuals for over three decades, O’Connor Warren has built a reputation for specialist expertise, client-first service and a deep understanding of the industries it serves.
With a history of award-winning performance, including being named Insurance Broking Company of the Year in 2018 at the New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards, the firm continues to grow as one of the country’s most trusted and high-performing brokerages.
“We have a saying, ‘Take people from an unhappy place to a happy place.’ That’s non-negotiable in our business,” O’Connor explains.
It’s a core mindset that has shaped O’Connor’s career and set his brokerage apart. In his experience, clients want brokers who pay attention, follow through and genuinely care.
If a client is frustrated, for example, whether it’s an insurer issue, a claim dispute or just uncertainty about coverage, O’Connor and his team handle it immediately.
New Zealand is no stranger to natural disasters, with the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle delivering $4.5 billion in insurance losses in 2023. In the aftermath, clients needed answers, not excuses.
Instead of getting lost in the chaos, O’Connor and his team doubled down on service. While some brokers were overwhelmed, he and his team stayed steady, cutting through the confusion to help clients with claims, policy changes and rising premiums.
“People just want someone who listens, supports them and answers the phone,” O’Connor says. “When their broker doesn’t call them back, they come to us.”
That kind of reliability, especially when things get tough, has earned him a reputation clients trust.
O’Connor has seen plenty of market shifts, but none quite like the one unfolding now. After years of rising rates and strict underwriting, the market is softening. Insurers who previously tightened their risk appetite are re-entering the space, bringing competition back.
“If brokers aren’t paying attention, they’ll get caught out. A competitor could come in with better pricing and terms, and you could lose business overnight,” he says.
For O’Connor, complacency is the most considerable risk in 2025. He believes brokers must stay sharp, anticipate shifts and keep their clients informed.
While he’s been a finalist for Insurance Broker of the Year multiple times, O’Connor doesn’t measure success in trophies. His greatest achievement is the exceptional team he’s built.
“We operate with an open-plan model,” he says. “I guide, advise and make sure everyone is match-fit.”
That approach has allowed his lean team to outperform competitors twice their size, building a business driven by referrals, reputation and results.
His advice for aspiring brokers is to be thorough, leave no stone unturned and take care of clients
“People don’t expect miracles. But if they trust you, they’ll stick with you,” O’Connor says.
124 Willow Street, Tauranga
021 578 607
eamon@oconnorwarren.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/eamon-o-connor-a3266a169
oconnorwarren.co.nz
Eamon O’Connor
Director
O’Connor Warren Insurance Brokers
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“I strongly believe in working smarter, not harder. I think it’s one of the keys to living a great life, and I want to share that with as many people as possible”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
2005–2016
2018
2022
2023
2024
2005: Finalist – Young Broker of the Year at the ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards
2016: Finalist – Broking Professional of the Year at the ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards
2005–
2016
Winner – Small to Medium Brokerage of the Year at the ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards
Finalist – Young Insurance Professionals Employer of the Year at the ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards
2018
Winner – O’Connor Warren at the Most Trusted Business Awards
2022
Runner-up – O’Connor Warren at the Most Trusted Business Awards
2023
Winner – O’Connor Warren at the Most Trusted Business Awards
2024
Milestones
Milestones
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