First Assistance appoints new Chief Executive Officer

New Zealand’s leading assistance company First Assistance announces the appointment of Mary-Jo McDonald as its new Chief Executive.

McDonald’s appointment comes after five years as the company’s General Manager and 10 years in the insurance and assistance industry. Over her tenure as First Assistance GM, McDonald has helped to expand the company’s global operations with several major contracts signed with insurers in the UK, Europe and Australia in recent years.

First Assistance Executive Chairman Murray Berkett acknowledged McDonald’s strategic direction and profile in the industry as key factors in today’s announcement.

“Mary-Jo brings substantial experience and business acumen to the role as CEO and has been instrumental in steering the company throughout much of its recent growth. Mary-Jo’s expertise and industry knowledge is a real asset to First Assistance and we welcome her strategic vision for the future of the organisation,” says Berkett.

McDonald is proud of the steady growth she has seen in her time as First Assistance GM and attributes the success to the strength of the team across the board.

“Since its inception in 1992, First Assistance has forged a reputation of continually striving to be better tomorrow than we are today. Through this, we have achieved steady growth within NZ and internationally, partnering with a fantastic group of clients who we are proud to support around the clock,” she says.

“Our success rests on the expertise and passion of the people we employ and the providers we work with throughout the world. I am grateful to be surrounded by such a committed and resourceful group of people and am looking forward to working with them in my new capacity as CEO.”