Waterford’s own Oliver Murphy Insurance enters a new chapter with Campion Insurance, PIB Group

Many of you may have noticed a big change when passing Oliver Murphy Insurance on the Quay lately.

Oliver Murphy himself tells us that the change is a bit more than just the name, and this is great news for the company, its staff, and, of course, you, the customer.

In June, Oliver Murphy Insurance merged with Campion Insurance, PIB Group.

This will mean more services for customers without losing the human touch that Oliver Murphy Insurance is known for.

“We are not gone away, and we appreciate your support. We are here for our customers in good times but also in bad times.

“The principles that Campion and PIB Group had for their business are very much married with what we want to be part of. We are very interested in remaining in the city, openly dealing with our clients on a face-to-face basis. They were very encouraging of that, and the 20 branches they have throughout Ireland are a testament to that,” said Oliver.

A NEW CHAPTER 

Oliver started the company with his father in 1996.

At the time they were based at 14 The Quay.

But with a lot of hard work and support from their loyal customers, the business grew to 20 staff and they outgrow their first home.

“So we moved here to Gladstone House on the Quay, which was a superb move for the business. It is a lovely building to work in and we were very keen on staying in the city centre and keeping our business in town as opposed to moving outside of the city,” said Oliver.

At Gladstone House, Oliver Murphy Insurance Brokerage went from strength to strength.

But with the advent of artificial intelligence and a changing industry, Oliver Murphy says there is strength in numbers.

“Campion Insurance has brought to our disposal new agreements with different insurance companies that we wouldn’t have had previously. So there is a wider reach being part of a bigger group, and obviously, there are more facilities that are available,” said Oliver.

Campion Insurance was started by Jim and Margaret Campion in Urlingford, Kilkenny, in the 1980s.

They now employ 500 people in Ireland, with a focus on making sure there is a branch in every locality.

Oliver says that the merger will mean more access to resources for his customers and more opportunities for his staff while continuing to look after their valued customers.

“Our trusted model has not changed we remain committed to human contact be it on the telephone or face to face . We are of course embracing all the backend stuff to ensure the business moves as smoothly as possible going forward.

“Faster service if possible, speedier documentation issue, new insurance companies coming into the market, and they want to deal with you because you are progressive. That really happens with larger numbers and strength,” said Oliver.

With Campion Insurance and PIB Group, staff have greater security and learning opportunities.

Oliver says Campion Insurance prioritises continuous professional development of staff, ensuring they are properly qualified to assist clients.

“Campion Insurance is a family business , we are a family business.

“Some of our staff are here 15, 18 years. They are long-standing, loyal people. They have their own client base and customers that like to deal with them only, and we don’t want to change that. That’s what’s important to us,” said Oliver.

Campion Insurance has a dedicated claims team, so if something goes wrong, the customer will have a person who looks after their best interests.

The new partnership will mean access to first-class IT solutions for customers who prefer to manage their account from their phone or computer.

And if you still want to chat to someone, Oliver Murphy and his team are still here.

“In our business, you can buy an insurance policy on your iPhone in 20 minutes, but I often say to people, if something goes wrong, are you going back to your phone for your solution.

“Who are you talking to? Who is going to take that problem from you and give you advice? That’s where our office has been successful, and we are not just about taking the business on. We need to look after you when things go wrong. That is the purpose of the contract,” said Oliver.