In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Mark Fitzgibbon, retired CEO and Managing Director of nib Group, who transformed a regional mutual health fund into Australia's fourth largest private health insurer and an ASX 100 company over 22 years. From local government reform to reshaping the clubs industry to building a healthcare empire, Mark shares profound insights on systematic transformation, critical thinking cultures, and why consistent outperformance requires discipline, not just vision. Discover how one leader's methodology works across completely different industries and why questioning everything becomes the foundation for lasting success.
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Episode Breakdown
00:00 Introduction and the three-sector transformation journey
07:18 Why transformation begins with replacing the senior management team
14:52 The "steel pipes moment" and keeping organisations focused on purpose
22:36 Building critical thinking cultures through psychological safety
29:44 The business model challenge method that drives consistent outperformance
37:22 Multi-sector validation and why the same principles work everywhere
44:18 Seeking outlier views over consensus thinking
51:33 The wisdom versus theory tension and staying intellectually curious
58:06 Post-executive reflections on 22 years of sustained transformation
About Mark Fitzgibbon
Mark Fitzgibbon is the retired CEO and Managing Director of nib Group, where he led the organisation from 2002 to 2025. During his tenure, nib grew from a smaller regionally-based mutual health fund to Australia's fourth largest private health insurer. In 2007, nib listed on the ASX, rising to become an ASX 100 company with a portfolio of healthcare businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Today, nib covers or supports approximately 2 million people.
Mark is well known for his progressive and entrepreneurial approach. nib has a long track record of challenging business models and innovation. Mark began his career in local government, culminating in leading three significant Councils in NSW. He was subsequently recruited as Chief Executive Officer at Clubs NSW and Clubs Australia, where he led an agenda of modernisation and developed responsible gambling practices across the sector.
Mark holds an MBA (UTS), MA (MGSM), has attended Harvard Business School and INSEAD, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is now pursuing a post-executive coaching career, sharing his systematic transformation wisdom with leaders navigating complex change.
Connect with Mark Fitzgibbon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzgibbon-3754504/
About Simon Bowen
Simon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organisations, recognising that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organisations.
Connect with Simon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/
Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/
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