From study desk to a Continental footprint
The early days were humble: Gordon started Oak Tree from his home study, handling every detail himself, from reinsurance renewals, to drafting the slips.
Within months, Oak Tree secured its first office space and began building a team. But the ethos remained clear: Service first! Then later it became more of a “serve the specialist, entrepreneurial UMAs with the dedication and attention they deserve”.
“We didn’t start out wanting to be the biggest, we wanted to be the best there is at what we do. That meant putting our clients first, growing deliberately, and building a team of people who care as much as I do,” says Gordon McKean.
Fifteen years later, Oak Tree now works with over 30 UMA clients, has relationships with multiple insurers across the African continent and Indian Ocean Islands, and continues to evolve with purpose. They will be looking to expand and open offices in Mauritius within the next year or two, where plans are underway to open a dedicated office to serve its growing African and Indian Ocean Island customer base.
What sets Oak Tree apart
Client-centricity at Its core
Oak Tree’s standout feature is its unwavering focus on service. Whether a client writes R20 million or R300 million in annual premium, they receive the same high level of attention. The team’s collaborative structure ensures that every client feels valued, heard, and supported. Their “whole-team-approach” is unparalleled in the market, so that various team members are around to ensure continuity and attention being given, should another not be able to.
Specialisation in the UMA market
The brokerage carved its niche by focusing on specialist UMAs, accident and health, life, heavy commercial vehicles, property, travel, entertainment, aviation and more. This deliberate focus has made Oak Tree a go-to partner for underwriting managers seeking reinsurance support and strategic advice in the South African market.
A Team culture that delivers
Oak Tree’s success is rooted in the strength of its people. The company’s management committee (Manco) includes:
- Gordon McKean, Founder & Managing Director – formerly with Aon Re, Hannover Re and various Insurance companies in varying roles
- Colin Griffiths, Head of Broking – formerly with Munich Re for 28 years’ plus additional Insurer experience prior to that (joined in 2018)
- Nadine Smit, Head of Finance (recently awarded her 10-year service award)
- Tanus Bot, Head of Analytics and recent Manco appointee (recently awarded his 5-year service award)
- Werner Badenhorst, Head of New Business and Client Retention – previous COO of Genoa – a South African owned UMA (joined in 2022). CA by profession.
This diverse leadership team ensures the company maintains its agility while scaling its capacity for analytics, actuarial support, and strategic reinsurance solutions.
Key milestones and expansion highlights
- 2010 – Oak Tree founded with a client-first vision
- 2012–2015 – Steady client growth in life, accident & health, travel, liability, and film and entertainment. During this time, the establishment of relationships in the rest of Africa outside of SA was prominent too
- 2019 – Introduction of analytics and actuarial capacity and purchased and renovated the “new” offices (Unit 5) in Boskruin View Office Park
- 2022 – Introduction to dedicated resource to service Lusophone Africa
- 2024 – Purchase of Unit 6 in Boskruin as part of the expansion plan and founded The Oaktree Academy as a further value-add for competitively priced training
- 2025 – Re-launch of Oak Tree’s African growth campaign with key participation in AIO (Ethiopia) and OESAI (Uganda) conferences
“Every new client we gain is a milestone for us. We’ve never lost a client due to anything service-related, and that’s something we’re truly proud of, and it continues to drive us every single day” – Gordon McKean
Looking ahead: Growth with purpose
Oak Tree’s future remains focused on two parallel growth paths:
- Deepening UMA market leadership within South Africa and
- Expanding into pan-African markets, with active growth planned in countries like Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius, Lesotho and the East African region.
The team’s language and market-specific capabilities (including a Portuguese-speaking broker) have already opened doors in previously underserved markets. Meanwhile, Oak Tree’s reinsurance offering continues to evolve with tailored reinsurance solutions, supported by deep actuarial analysis, and a dedicated Facultative team.
Culture, camaraderie, and the famous fishing trips
While Oak Tree is serious about its work, it’s also known for creating memorable experiences with clients. Its annual fishing trips have become legendary:
- The Oak Tree fishing challenge – A team-based event where clients and Oak Tree staff compete in both fishing and cooking over several days at Jozini Dam.
- The Oak Tree individual classic – A solo competition for individual clients, mixing serious fishing with relaxed camaraderie and culinary creativity.
“It’s not just about business; it’s about building real relationships. Sitting around a campfire after a day on the water, brings people together in a way emails never can.”
The Oak Tree Academy: Giving back through learning
One of the most exciting developments tied to Oak Tree’s 15th anniversary is the establishment of the Oaktree Academy, a dedicated training arm focused on rebuilding the industry’s technical capacity post-COVID.
Housed in the newly expanded offices in Boskruin, the Academy will offer CPD-accredited courses (at a reasonable cost) in insurance and reinsurance, specialty lines, underwriting, sales, and more. It will feature:
- In-person learning in a world-class, custom-built 16-seat training room
- Online access to reach learners across South Africa and beyond
- Courses co-developed with industry experts
The Academy reflects Oak Tree’s commitment to growing not just its own business, but the sector as a whole, ensuring the next generation of professionals has access to quality, practical education, an area they feel is lacking currently.
15 Years strong, and just getting started
As Oak Tree turns 15, it stands tall not just as a reinsurance broker, but as a trusted partner, mentor, and innovator. The business was born out of a clear need. It flourished through commitment, integrity, service and expertise. And now, it celebrates its legacy while leaning confidently into a future filled with possibility, locally and across the continent.
Here’s to Oak Tree – rooted in service, growing with purpose.
