[Obituary] Cary Veenhof: The BDM’s BDM

Fidelity Life business development manager Cary Veenhof is being remembered as “the BDM’s BDM”.

Tuesday, June 26th 2018, 11:23AM 1 Comment

The 53-year-old was killed in a road accident last week.

He had spent 16 years with the insurer, where his work colleagues said he was a loyal friend and consummate sales professional.

“Cary possessed a great deal of accountability and integrity, and always treated others with respect. As a result, Cary quickly earned people’s trust and many of his colleagues saw him not just as a workmate but as a friend, “ the insurer said in a statement.

Veenhof and his partner, Mark Brown, moved to New Zealand in 2001 and Veenhof joined Fidelity the next year. Two years later, Brown also joined the insurer, where he still works.

Fidelity Life said Veenhof initially took a client services role but it was soon clear that his true passion was sales and he became a BDM.

“Cary was dedicated to his advisers and was happy to work long hours; he was often the first to arrive at work and the last to leave, and it wasn’t unusual to find him in the office on Saturdays.

“While Cary’s professionalism and sense of style are perhaps his best-known traits – he was seldom seen at work without a tie – his dry, understated sense of humour often surprised people. This was often expressed through his advocacy for diversity and equality issues and many staff members can recall Cary greeting them for the first time with a cheery: ‘Hi, I’m Cary and I’m gay’.”

Fidelity said Veenhof was a “natural host” and would take over at informal team events, adding “a bit of glamour”.

“He also had a strong sense of fairness and would insist on buying gifts for every one of his colleagues when overseas. If gifts for everyone could not be found, then nobody would get one. Workmates also note that Cary wouldn’t allow them to buy him lunch unless it was first agreed he would repay them the following day.

“Cary will be sadly missed by his colleagues, advisers and peers across the industry. He would have wanted us to get on with things and look after his advisers in the highly professional and respectful way that was Cary’s trademark. That’s exactly what we’ll do to honour him.”

Brown and Veenhof were married in 2016 and shared a love of dogs and gardening.

A celebration of Veenhof’s life will be held on June 29 at the Aotea Centre, NZI Room. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ or Paw Justice - Pet Rescue.

Tags: Fidelity Life Obituaries