Rodney Thembinkosi Sithole
Spruitview
Summary
I'm Rodney Thembinkosi Sithole—a versatile insurance professional who brings a full spectrum of expertise, from leading a sales team to being on the frontlines of sales to commercial and elite underwriting. I began my career at Oaksure Insurance Services, where I led a high-performing sales team and built strategic dealership partnerships—transforming lead generation into a scalable, revenue-generating engine. I then progressed to mastering the grind of cold calling at OUTsurance, where I built the resilience, sales discipline, and client trust skills that laid the foundation for future leadership. Most recently, at Old Mutual Insure, I managed high-net-worth personal lines clients and underwrote complex commercial risks—driving profitability, retention, and client satisfaction across a R100 million portfolio. I merge data-driven underwriting with ethical advisory and sharp business development instincts—delivering measurable impact wherever I go.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Underwriter & Elite Portfolio Manager
Old Mutual Insure
Parktown North, South Africa
05.2022 - Current
- Dual Role: Elite Personal Lines & Commercial Portfolio Management
- Managed an exclusive book of ultra-affluent clients with consolidated policy values exceeding R2 million (residential, motor, contents), acting as a "private banker" within insurance.
- Cultivated deeply trusted client partnerships, leading to direct client engagement due to transparent, ethical, and highly personalized service.
- Underwrote a R100 million commercial portfolio spanning diverse sectors including fleet, heavy commercial vehicles, cyber, property, yellow metals, and liability.
- Delivered bespoke underwriting solutions, balancing technical risk assessment with robust client and broker relationship management.
- Led and mentored a dedicated support team of four, enhancing client engagement, underwriting discipline, and risk mitigation practices.
- Strategic Portfolio Optimization & Leadership
- Played a pivotal role in driving profitability, client retention, and operational excellence across both portfolios.
- Implemented personalized client engagement strategies rooted in transparency, trust, and ethical underwriting principles, minimizing negative surprises in claims management.
- Fostered a culture of partnership with brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders, leveraging clear communication as a competitive advantage.
- Achieved a 20% elevation in portfolio profitability through strategic underwriting, relationship-driven retention, and data-enabled risk management.
- Developed a loyal client base and highly effective internal team, consistently managing complex personal and commercial risk books.
- Systems, Platforms & Digital Underwriting Expertise
Proficient in key insurance platforms: - C360 (Cardinal360) for quoting, policy lifecycle, binder compliance, and MI dashboards;
- TIA for full policy administration (new business, endorsements, claims);
- MIOM Insure for automated onboarding and compliance;
- Salesforce CRM for broker/client tracking and retention.
Outbound Sales Consultant – Personal Lines
OUTsurance
Pretoria, South Africa
08.2021 - 12.2021
- Operated within a high-intensity outbound department, converting cold leads into fully underwritten short-term insurance policies.
- Successfully navigated objection-heavy conversations, building instant rapport and educating prospects on product value to drive conversions.
- Conducted real-time needs analyses, collected underwriting data, and structured competitive quotations using the PVS sales system.
- Consistently met commission-based performance targets while upholding stringent quality assurance and compliance standards.
- Key Highlight: Gained foundational expertise in high-volume client engagement, objection handling, and building trust rapidly – skills critical for advisory underwriting roles.
Team Lead: Sales & Dealer Partnerships
Oaksure Financial Services
Randburg, South Africa
01.2021 - 07.2021
- Led and supervised an 8-agent outbound sales team, ensuring alignment with KPIs, compliance, and quality assurance protocols.
- Managed end-to-end insurance lead generation and client acquisition by establishing commercial partnerships with independent car dealerships across Gauteng.
- Developed and implemented a scalable dealer engagement model, negotiating lead-sharing agreements to secure a steady client pipeline.
- Oversaw the quoting process, leveraging a panel of 21 insurance providers to deliver tailored policy options.
- Utilized digital lead-generation channels (Facebook, online dealership platforms) to identify and acquire clients.
- Key Achievement: Successfully onboarded over 15 dealership partners, contributing to a 30-40% improvement in team productivity through hands-on supervision and tailored coaching.
- Introduced innovative lead acquisition tactics via digital platforms, positioning the department for scalable growth.
Education
No Degree - Class of Business (COB) Commercial Lines - Short T
GIFS
Sandton, South AfricaNo Degree - Insurance Underwriting NQF Level 5
Novia One Business School
Sandton, South Africa12-2025
No Degree - FETC Short Term Insurance NQF Level 4
Inseta
Pretoria, South Africa01-2022
No Degree - RE5 Regulatory Examination: Representatives in All
Moonstone
Sandton, South Africa05-2021
No Degree - Class of Business (COB) Personal Lines - Short Ter
Integrity Academy
Pretoria, South Africa08-2019
High School Diploma -
Jeppe Boys' High School
Johannesburg, South Africa12-2010
Skills
- Insurance underwriting
- Portfolio management
- Risk assessment
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Fraud detection
- Regulatory compliance
Timeline
Commercial Underwriter & Elite Portfolio Manager
Old Mutual Insure
05.2022 - Current
Outbound Sales Consultant – Personal Lines
OUTsurance
08.2021 - 12.2021
Team Lead: Sales & Dealer Partnerships
Oaksure Financial Services
01.2021 - 07.2021
No Degree - Class of Business (COB) Commercial Lines - Short T
GIFS
No Degree - Insurance Underwriting NQF Level 5
Novia One Business School
No Degree - FETC Short Term Insurance NQF Level 4
Inseta
No Degree - RE5 Regulatory Examination: Representatives in All
Moonstone
No Degree - Class of Business (COB) Personal Lines - Short Ter
Integrity Academy
High School Diploma -
Jeppe Boys' High School