North Shore resident Naomi Ballantyne has spent 41 years in the insurance industry, 35 building three of the largest life insurance businesses.
Naomi’s career has been called accidental, she admits that when she abandoned a marine biology degree for a trainee role at in insurance company, she didn’t know anything about the industry, but Management Trainee sounded good to her.
Naomi was a founding employee of Sovereign Insurance, joining Chris Coon and Ian Hendry at age 24. When Sovereign was sold to ASB in 1998, Naomi founded Club Life, later sold to ING before she left in 2009. Then came Partners Life, founded in 2011 and sold for over $1b to Japanese life insurer Dai-ichi in 2022.
Naomi says she became an entrepreneur because she couldn't get a suitable job after Sovereign. The choice was, leave the country, my mum and my family, or build my own job.
The former Westlake Girls High student was born and raised in Glenfield. Her mum Tongan, father Canadian.
Naomi’s thirst for hard work started at 13. Strawberry picking, then working in a dairy, in Farmers Menswear before moving on to insurance. The rest is history.
Naomi credits the struggle through her early years, and the work she had to put in, as key drivers of her success.
She has always enjoyed sport and being active, and still competes in trail running, plays golf and loves active challenges to keep her healthy.
Ironically, Naomi’s parents never had insurance, saying they never talked about money, which is still a problem in NZ families. She didn’t know what insurance was... but says she found out early that people get paid money when bad things happen and that’s what has kept her hooked for all these years.
Family is important, and they have been there through all of Naomi’s achievements. Husband Kerry, their son Kris and Naomi’s brother Peter have all played parts in the success, and she counts her daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, two nephews, a niece, a nephew’s wife, and three of her cousins’ sons among employees along the way.
Naomi’s passionate about life risk insurance and its purpose, saying “Our mission has always been to be able to financially protect more families against ill health, in a vastly underinsured market.”
Naomi Ballantyne gives back in many ways. Personally and through her businesses.
She speaks at Rotary youth leader camps which is one way she is looking to change NZ. Battling the financial rorting inflicted on the Pacific Island communities is another. Teaching emerging leaders about bravery, resilience and character is also a great passion. Helping others improve their financial wellbeing is clearly a focus.
Partner’s Life is a support partner of ‘Banqer High’, an innovative education technology company for schools. Its mission is to empower the next generation’s financial future. 300,000 students have developed their money know-how with Banqer.
Partners Life has been a principal supporter of Cure Kids, for many years sponsored the ‘Partners Life DUAL’ and has been the Principal Sponsor of ‘Body Worlds Vital’.
Naomi Ballantyne has also been inducted into the Company of Women Female Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, is the recipient of the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to the New Zealand life insurance market, the FSC Chairman’s Award for services to the Financial Services Industry, and was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 New Year's Honours list.
Tonight, we acknowledge Naomi Ballantyne as a hugely deserving inductee to the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame.
