Michael Prokopis
Summary
Hardworking Insurance Professional with over 20 years of experience in the
Industry. Excellent reputation for resolving problems and improving customer satisfaction.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Underwriting Manager - Southern Region
Axis Underwriting Services Pty Ltd
01.2024 - Current
- Ensured efficient workflow management by establishing clear priorities and monitoring progress regularly.
- Reviewed quote submissions thoroughly, ensuring accurate evaluation of risks in alignment with established guidelines.
- Managed a high-performing team of underwriters, providing guidance and support to ensure consistent results.
- Mentored junior underwriters in best practices, contributing to their professional development within the organization.
- Proactively identified areas for process improvement within the department, implementing changes that led to increased efficiency across teams.
- Conducted regular performance reviews for team members, fostering professional growth and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
- Built strong relationships with brokers and agents, providing exceptional customer service while negotiating policy terms effectively.
- Streamlined communication between underwriting, claims, and other departments to foster collaboration and improve overall service levels.
- Studied insurance industry changes, remaining up-to-date with latest trends and protocols.
- Met with customers, agents and brokers to negotiate coverage, price, and service delivery.
Commercial Underwriter
Axis Underwriting Services
03.2017 - Current
- Underwrite the following commercial products - Business Packs, ISR policies, Commercial Strata, and Casualty.
- Contribute to achieving and exceeding team renewal and new business budgets.
- Action endorsements to all commercial policies noted above.
- Maintain strong relationship with assigned panel of Brokers.
- Assisted in the development of underwriting guidelines, providing clear direction for assessing commercial risks.
- Established trust with brokers through transparent communication about underwriting decisions and rationale behind them.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to remain current on best practices within the commercial underwriting field.
- Supported junior underwriters in their career development by providing guidance, training, and mentorship.
Mid-Market Underwriter
Suncorp - Vero
11.2011 - 07.2016
- Underwrite individual ISR, Motor Fleet, & Corporate Liability policies.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with Brokers - market facing role.
- Review and complete alterations for ISR, Motor Fleet, and Corporate Liability policies.
- Contribute to achieving and exceeding team renewal and new business budgets.
- Have developed strong relationships with my panel of Brokers.
- Have successfully passed all internal underwriting audits.
- Have maintained a consistent and healthy renewal book of business, and have also written profitable risks for the business.
- Have trained two new Underwriters to the team.
- Technical Underwriting referral point to internal and external stakeholders.
Commercial Packages Technical Underwriter
Suncorp - GIO & Resilium
09.2009 - 11.2011
- Underwrite individual commercial package policies.
- Request Loss Control surveys when appropriate, and instigate appropriate underwriting actions.
- Conduct Underwriting reviews of policies underwritten by staff outside of the Underwriting Department, identifying any breaches of underwriting guidelines and suggesting any remedial actions as necessary.
- Provide the Underwriting Manager with feedback on the market competitiveness of our product offerings and pricing.
- Act as a first referral point for staff from other departments for interpretations of underwriting guidelines and technical underwriting advice.
- Provide clear and consistent interpretations of underwriting guidelines, referring to the manager when appropriate.
- Have passed all internal underwriting audits.
- Have developed strong relationships with our internal GIO Sales Representatives and panel of Brokers.
Product & System Support Officer
Suncorp / GIO
10.2006 - 09.2009
- Responsible for supervising the Call Quality & Quality Assurance aspects for the General Insurance Phone Consultants of the AMP General Insurance network.
- Responsible for the ongoing training requirements for new and existing consultants.
- Handle escalated complaints.
- Act as a subject matter expert for the Personal, Broker, & Commercial Insurance teams, assisting our consultants with technical & underwriting enquiries.
- Have successfully supported and coached less than satisfactory performers to a satisfactory / and or superior level.
- Have undertaken and completed certain projects for the Department. One includes creating a Service Level Agreement between the Product & System Support Officers and the Leaders of the AMP Customer Service Department.
- Have created a General Insurance Fraud training document for the AMP Customer Service Department.
- I have created a weekly General Insurance competition for the Consultants aiming to enhance team work and the Insurance knowledge of all staff.
Commercial Insurance Support Officer
Suncorp - GIO & AMP
01.2006 - 10.2006
- Process changes to business, trade, farm, and commercial vehicle policies.
- Re-rating policies, processing alterations to policies.
- Processing alterations and new business applications received from Fire & Business Managers.
- Build rapport and develop relationships with existing AMP end customers to maintain and grow the business through intermediaries (Advisers and Brokers).
Claims Officer - GIO Property Claims (Personal & Commercial Motor)
Suncorp - GIO & AMP
06.2003 - 01.2006
- Lodge and action new claims within delegated authority levels.
- Determine liability and accept/reject claims.
- Negotiate settlements on loss of use (demurrage).
- Negotiate settlements with insureds and third parties where applicable.
- Liase and provide instructions to external parties, including recommended repairers/solicitors/assessors/forensic consultants/investigators.
- Updating of reserves/estimates to reflect on-going claims cost.
- Promote the use of recommended repairers/suppliers to reduce claims costs.
- Identify and notify potential recoveries to the Recoveries unit.
- After my first three months of employment with Suncorp I was promoted to the Recoveries Project Team.
- Responsible for outsourcing claims to our external recovery agencies for the team. I was the main point of contact for this function and was responsible for providing Management with a weekly report.
- Prepared and presented a one hour Business Unit Vision Statement for our department in our Team Meeting.
- Have compiled and presented reports for the IDR (internal dispute resolution process) panel.
- Seconded to Technical Officer (Supervisor) for the Personal Motor Team for 6 weeks. Also seconded as a Technical Officer (Supervisor) for the Commercial Motor Team for 4 months.
- Leader of the Gallup project - employee engagement survey.
- Have been trained in the Commercial Motor Team and have performed this role for six weeks.
Education
VCE -
St Leos College
Bachelor of Arts -
Monash University, Caulfield VIC
Certificate IV - Financial Services - General Insurance
ANZIIF
Tier 1 & Tier 2 - General Insurance And Advice
Kaplan Professional
Skills
- Underwriting guidelines
- Portfolio management
- Reliability
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
Timeline
Commercial Underwriting Manager - Southern Region
Axis Underwriting Services Pty Ltd
01.2024 - Current
Commercial Underwriter
Axis Underwriting Services
03.2017 - Current
Mid-Market Underwriter
Suncorp - Vero
11.2011 - 07.2016
Commercial Packages Technical Underwriter
Suncorp - GIO & Resilium
09.2009 - 11.2011
Product & System Support Officer
Suncorp / GIO
10.2006 - 09.2009
Commercial Insurance Support Officer
Suncorp - GIO & AMP
01.2006 - 10.2006
Claims Officer - GIO Property Claims (Personal & Commercial Motor)
Suncorp - GIO & AMP
06.2003 - 01.2006
VCE -
St Leos College
Bachelor of Arts -
Monash University, Caulfield VIC
Certificate IV - Financial Services - General Insurance
ANZIIF
Tier 1 & Tier 2 - General Insurance And Advice
Kaplan Professional
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