Sharné Liebenberg has joined the Apio Group to create a trucking insurance division and help drive growth within the company.

Independent boutique financial services business, the Apio Group is expanding its insurance offering with the development of a trucking insurance division to be led by Sharné Liebenberg.

Apio is always looking at expanding its in-house expertise by developing pockets of excellence in specific industry segments to serve its clientele. The growth of online shopping and greater reliance on road transport in South Africa, due in large part to COVID-19, has resulted in significant growth in this sector. 

“We believe that this is the perfect time to expand our offering and are delighted that industry expert, Sharné Liebenberg has joined the Apio team to plot this new and exciting course,” says Richard Hood, Co-Founder and Director at the Apio Group

The risks in trucking are unique and a specific suite of products and expertise is required to meet the increasing demands of these clients. “I have joined the Apio Group to develop the trucking insurance division with the aim of building custom-built products and risk management services to provide the ideal solution for each individual client,” says Sharné Liebenberg, newly appointed head of trucking insurance at the Apio Group. 

“The range of offerings will include both conventional as well as non-conventional products from market-leading, reputable insurers (both direct and broker-only insurers), ensuring innovative structures that fit the clients’ needs and cater for the company’s specific risk profile. The aim is to provide a holistic view of managing risk coupled with a sustainable insurance programme where the overall objective is to reduce the cost of risk over the longer term” states Liebenberg.

Liebenberg is passionate about trucking insurance having served clients in this sector for twelve years.  “It is about helping business owners understand their unique exposures and providing an adequate solution and not merely providing a cheap product. Whether they have a fleet of 100 trucks or only one – they deserve the same level of service and effort when it comes to handling their insurance portfolio”. She says that one thing she’s been taught from the very start of her career is to tackle each challenge from the point of view of how she would like her own query to be handled.

Whilst not currently part of the women in trucking forums, Liebenberg says that being part of these in the future will ensure Apio is firmly established as a player in the trucking insurance space. She applauds the various initiatives currently driven by original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) to train young female drivers, and financiers extending credit to female-owned trucking companies. “I am excited about the recent transformation in the industry with women playing more of a role in this sector” adds Liebenberg. 

Liebenberg has over 12 years of experience in the trucking insurance industry, having initially started her career in the claims department of a trucking brokerage. She has worked as a senior account handler for a number of transport divisions within the insurance industry, notably Santam Heavy Haulage and Hollard Trucking and brings immense experience to the Apio team. 

“We believe that it is important to understand specific clients’ needs in each industry segment in which we operate and the best way to do this is by building teams with extensive experience and skill. Sharné’s experience and philosophy in working closely with clients to tailor the best solution, means that she fits perfectly into the Apio culture of connecting with clients in a very personal and family orientated way” concludes Hood.