[Obituary] Michael Garner

Financial industry mourns passing of Michael Garner

Wednesday, March 23rd 2022, 3:32PM 1 Comment

by Dale Owens

The financial services industry is mourning the passing of PIC Insurance, managing director, Michael Geoffrey Garner who has died aged 64.

Mike followed his father into the insurance industry starting at AMP in the late 1970s. He was a determined man with vision and he knew he couldn't answer to an Australian corporate and went out on his own. He started a small office in Panmure, then shifted to East Tamaki to make PIC Insurance one of the largest privately owned independent insurance brokerages in the country.

At Fidelity Life he won every award that was going including the Fidelity Life Shield and Chairman's Trophy. He was also a big supporter of Asteron and other life companies.

Even as managing director of PIC, Mike would be out signing up clients and showing his advisers how it should be done. He was one of the first companies in the market to have salaried advisers so that the clients' interest was put first. He had a huge Fire and General brokerage with speciality in the marine business.

As his business grew, so did Mike's generosity towards many community-based clubs within the Pakuranga area. Mike was a keen sportsperson, loving his rugby, cricket, sailing and golf. He put back into these sports at the grass roots where it was needed.

The Pakuranga Rugby Club was his passion but other considerable beneficiaries were Counties, Auckland and Waikato rugby unions, netball and boating. His PIC sponsorship is seen all around the region.

His family was his priority and he had tremendous support from his wife Robyn and three children, Daniel, Kristen and Rachael who all worked at PIC. His love of his family, his achievement in building up PIC and his generosity to the community will leave a long legacy.

He will be sadly missed.

Tags: Obituaries