Big Moves – Newfoundland broker takes helm of IBAC

St. John’s, Newfoundland-based broker Kent Rowe is the new president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.
A former president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Newfoundland, Rowe is a founding member of the province’s Young Broker Network. He is vice president of commercial lines for Wedgwood Insurance.

While studying business at Memorial University, Rowe decided to get into the insurance industry after his brother suggested he should consider it as an option.

Rowe initially started his career as an account executive at Wedgwood, but he decided to get some experience at a carrier. For three years, he worked in Halifax as Aviva Canada’s business development manager for Atlantic Canada. He returned to Wedgwood in 2013.

With offices in both St. John’s and Corner Brook, Wedgewood places a variety of business and commercial coverages, including surety, general liability, management liability, marine, cyber, builder’s risk, home, auto and high net worth.

Rowe has taught courses at the Insurance Institute of Newfoundland and Labrador and is a founding member of the province’s Young Broker Network.

WHO: Kent Rowe

CURRENT ROLE: President, Insurance Brokers Association of Canada

P&C EXPERIENCE: 20+ years

PROFILE: Founding member of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Young Broker Network. Past president of
the Insurance Brokers Association of Newfoundland

Mark Hughes has retired from the role of vice president at Western Canada for CEP Forensic after more than 20 years in the insurance business. Based in Edmonton, Hughes founded Sintra Engineering in 1997. CEP merged with Sintra in 2017.

Mark LeBlanc is now managing director of broker distribution and marketing for Aviva Canada. He was previously Northbridge Insurance’s executive vice president of Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Mark LeBlanc, managing director of broker distribution and marketing for Aviva Canada.

François Blais is now president of Industrial Alliance Auto and Home Insurance and Prysm General Insurance. In 2017, he became iA Financial Group’s vice president and chief data and analytics officer.

François Blais, president and chief operating officer, Industrial Alliance Auto and Home Insurance and Prysm General Insurance,