The GTA continues to develop the next generation of non-executive directors in Guernsey, and in 2024 we welcomed Optimum Global Insurance Company Limited (OGICO) as a new partner company to our Non-Executive Director (NED) Development Programme. OGICO is part of Optimum Global which provides high-quality personalised health and travel insurance plans to globally mobile individuals and expatriates. Shadowing the OGICO Board since 2024, as its first NED Development placement trainee, has been Heath Martorella, who has benefitted from observing the Board in action as well as 1-1 mentoring from the Chairman.
Richard Le Tocq, Non-Executive Chair of OGICO commented: As past Chair of the Institute of Directors and Guernsey International Insurance Association (GIIA) I am very supportive of the NED Development Programme. Heath has been a very active and enthusiastic participant. His commercial experience from a different Guernsey regulatory sector proved to be useful. I recommended extending the placement period from proposed 12 months 18 months to ensure that Heath experienced a full cycle of Board activities including regulatory returns and the internal and external audit process. This enhanced Heath’s experience of this commercial insurance company which will serve him well should he decide to pursue a formal NED appointment in the insurance sector.
Peter Saunders, founder of Optimum Global, parent company of OGICO, added: As an international company in the regulated financial services sector, OGICO is an integral part of our business. It is essential that OGICO benefits from strong governance and strategic leadership, provided not only by the parent Director on the Board, but mainly by the experienced Guernsey based NED’s. Having a rich pool of NED’s on the island provides stability for my business and we have been very keen to support the NED Development Programme. Richard introduced the concept to me a few years ago and I was very willing to assist. It has been good to have Heath see the OGICO Board in action and hope that we have been able to provide him with an insight not only to our business but how Boards need to act in order to be effective in this competitive market.
Heath Martorella commented: I am very grateful to the Board of OGICO and the GTA for this placement, where I have learnt a great deal from observing Board meetings dealing with all aspects of the company’s operations, strategy, new business, audit, risk, and regulatory matters, as well as gaining a useful understanding of the insurance world. As part of my placement, I was also pleased to be invited to comment on the review and development of OGICO’s Strategy Risk and Governance Framework. I am very grateful for Richard Le Tocq’s mentoring which has benefitted me hugely, as well as Peter Saunders kindly giving me his time as founder to discuss the insurance market, and his experiences of establishing and growing the Optimum Global group. I also thank Justin Upson and the team at Strategic Risk Solutions in Guernsey (as manager to OGICO) for their help, and to Malcolm CuttsWatson as my GTA mentor and liaison. Also acknowledging the support from my employer Bellerive Group with my development. It is a pleasure working with all of the team, and I would highly commend this programme to any aspiring NED to gain real-world experience of company boards and decision-making.
Simon Le Tocq, CEO of the GTA, also commented: “The Non-Executive Director Development Programme continues to go from strength to strength, thanks to the valuable support of organisations like OGICO. This initiative not only develops future board members but also contributes to strong corporate governance across Guernsey. Seeing talented individuals like Heath benefit from real-world boardroom experience and mentoring is exactly what the programme was designed for. We’re proud to help cultivate the next generation of NEDs who will shape the future of our island’s business landscape.”
For further information, or to be considered for the GTA’s NED Development Programme, please contact Julie Eaton: [email protected]