Delta Spotlight - Tesh Patel, Managing Director

A self-described ‘insurance lifer’, Tesh Patel first got into the industry after a stint in recruitment. He was a little interested in ‘information technology’ and applied to join an IT Grad scheme for a British insurer, successfully winning one of just 14 places in a pool of over 8500 candidates. Initially intending to study and work in networking, Tesh was a bit surprised when the networking was outsourced, and he was expected to become a developer.

By his own admission, he was the worst developer potentially in history. But this turn of events pushed him into their general business management scheme, where he was far better aligned, and he soon fell in love with the industry.

Initially working in his native Britain, Tesh took a ‘one year secondment’ to Singapore and stayed for nearly four, rising to Professional and Financial Risks Manager, Asia & Middle East. Looking for a change, he came to Sydney in 2010 and with his wife and realised he was finally home.

After a lengthy stint with IAG during which he progressed to Executive Manager for Commercial Portfolios, Tesh came on board as Managing Director with Delta Insurance Australia when the business kicked off in 2022.

A distinctly people person, Tesh finds this aspect of insurance most rewarding. He’s got a keen appreciation for the value of lasting relationships (which is what brought him to Delta), and he is a firm advocate of the essential role insurance plays in modern society. “Insurance is pivotal in helping people and businesses in their time of need,” he says.

Unashamedly a ‘born and bred Pom’, Tesh is sports mad, taking in soccer, rugby, AFL, cricket and more, an active ‘footy’ player and gym aficionado, and proud dad to two young boys.