Moves (February 01, 2007)

Ral Circ, the president and CEO of La Capitale General Insurance, officially retired as of Jan. 4, 2007 after 25 years at La Capitale. Circ spent almost 18 years as the president and CEO of the company. “Mr. Circ has left La Capitale General Insurance and its employees in very good hands,” La Capitale announced in a press release. John Strome, the executive vice president of La Capitale General Insurance for the past three years, has now taken on the role of president and CEO. Strome joined La Capitale General Insurance team in 1985 and has successively held the positions of regional manager for Trois-Rivires, insurance manager, director of operations, vice president of sales and development and most recently executive vice president. Strome’s “presence within the company over the past 22 years guarantees the continued commitment to La Capitale General Insurance’s corporate values: integrity, profitability, controlled growth, quality service and personnel satisfaction,” the company said in a press release. “There is no doubt that since Mr. Circ and Mr. Strome have worked side by side for more than 20 years, the company’s philosophy is set to remain intact.”

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The United Way of Greater Toronto has awarded Travelers-Canada (Travelers) employee Frances Woodroffe the Employee Campaign Chair of the Year Spirit Award. Woodroffe, a staff member at Travelers’ Toronto office, received the honour in the 101-250 employee category for her work on a campaign that raised more than Cdn$100,000. “United Way picked Frances over three other finalists drawn from 1,200 submissions in our company’s category,” Robert Fellows, Travelers-Canada’s president said in a statement. “This is the first time the United Way has awarded this to anyone in the Insurance Industry category.”

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Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is bringing its Emergency Ice and Cold Water Rescue demonstration to four Alberta cities this winter as part of a 10-city tour. The industry wants hockey players, skaters, snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts to know the cold, hard facts about ice safety, and to be aware of ice rescue tips that could save their lives. A spokesperson for Canada’s home, car and business insurers’ Be Smart Be Safe injury prevention program, John Blaicher (a.k.a. “The Iceman”), will plunge into freezing water to demonstrate self-rescue techniques and provide tips for assisting others who have fallen through the ice.

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The Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island (ICPEI) has received regulatory approval to branch into private passenger auto insurance in New Brunswick, effective Jan. 1, 2007. They will also Nova Scotia’s auto line market in Mar. 1, 2007.Previously the company had only been selling commercial and home owners policies in each of the provinces. “I’m pleased that we’ll soon be offering a full range of insurance products to our customers throughout the Maritimes,” Charlie Cooke, president of ICPEI, said in a statement.

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Anthony Clark Insurance Brokers Ltd. has announced the purchase of the customer accounts of Universal Insurance Brokers Ltd., a Calgary-based general insurance broker. Anthony Clark purchased the customers accounts for $468,000. The purchase price was financed with cash and seller financing, according to a statement from the firm. Anthony Clark is a general insurance brokerage employing 144 people out of 17 offices. Five of their offices are in Alberta. To date, the company has purchased 23 general insurance brokerages and has plans to acquire additional brokerages in both the Canadian and U.S. markets.