Insurer has 'an occasion to celebrate'

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24: It’s full steam ahead for one local insurer. While the Great Recession has forced many companies to cut back, and some to even close, Freisenbruch-Meyer Group (FMG) continues to buck the trend and expand.

FMG will officially be opening its new client reception hall on Friday on the ground floor of the Freisenbruch-Meyer Building.

William Madeiros, general manager and executive vice president, said: “During these challenging times, it seems a rare day that we are not confronted with bad news. However, amongst the bad news, the fact that we remain in business and can hire the best local talent is certainly an occasion to celebrate.

“We are committed to Bermuda for the long haul and opening our doors on the ground floor of 75 Front Street to provide better service is a testament to that commitment.”

The client reception hall has a modern, almost futuristic feel to it with neon lights and a graphic digital ticker display. The ticker will provide guests with personalized messages.

A hydraulic lift elevator has been added so customers will not longer have to trek up the stairs to get to the other floors. Clients will also be able to listen to and purchase music from the Ride the Wave charitable CDs.

Michael Freisenbruch, president, established Freisenbruch-Meyer Insurance Services Ltd. in 1979, as a joint venture with Meyer Agencies.

Mr Freisenbruch amalgamated with his former employer, Harnett & Richardson Ltd., in 1997 and also acquired the 75 Front Street building.

Today, the company has grown from 15 employees to 40, with 95 per cent Bermudian staff. With ACE Bermuda as principal reinsurer and Butterfield Bank as business partner, both holding equity interest, Freisenbruch-Meyer Group is continuing to grow.

Mr Freisenbruch said, “It is with great pleasure and excitement that we present our new client reception hall to the Bermuda community.

“We’ve made tremendous progress as a local insurer, offering all lines of insurance products. It is our corporate philosophy to continuously provide exceptional customer service coupled with quality products and the expertise to offer policy wording that is easy for our clients to understand.

“It is a privilege to be in business and we are certainly grateful to our clients, business partners and supporters for assisting us along the way.”