Moves and Views

1 EGI Financial Holdings Inc. announced in August it has reached an agreement to sell the company’s non-standard automobile insurance operations in the United States. It has entered into a stock purchase agreement with Michigan-based White Pine Insurance Company, in which White Pine Insurance will purchase EGI Insurance Services, Inc. and all subsidiaries, including American Colonial Insurance Company and EGI Insurance Services (Florida) Inc. “The exit from the U.S. is expected to add $0.30 per share to our annual 2014 earnings and will allow management to concentrate its time and resources on our profitable Canadian and European businesses,” Steve Dobronyi [1], CEO of EGI Financial, notes in a company statement.

2 Mark Dutton [2a] will assume responsibilities as president of Coast Capital Insurance Services Ltd. (CCIS) by the end of the year, notes a recent statement from Western Financial Group. Western Financial acquired CCIS from Coast Capital Savings Credit Union in early July. Succeeding Rick Parent [2b], who is retiring after more than three decades with CCIS at the end of 2013, Dutton’s previous roles include Western Financial’s regional vice president for southern Alberta, director of casualty and claims (West Region) for Intact Insurance, northern regional manager, claims (Alberta) for Axa Insurance and as a disability management consultant for Arthur Grey Consultants. CCIS offers property, casualty and commercial insurance products through 32 retail insurance offices and a call centre.

3 Bob Murray [3] recently took on duties as vice president, surety for Zurich Canada. Murray brings surety and specialty insurance management experience and 14 years in the banking world of commercial lending and account management to the post. “Bob’s understanding and knowledge of the surety and finance business will complement our already deep commitment to meet and surpass the expectations of our bonding- and construction-focused brokers and customers,” Patrick Lundy, president and CEO of Zurich Canada, says in a statement.

4 Hamilton, Ontario-based CARSTAR Automotive Canada has introduced a real-time, online appointment-booking tool for customers and insurers. The proprietary uSelect tool offers “a turn-key solution to our customers and insurance and franchise partners by eliminating the uncertainty of online bookings, which most of the time end up in a phone call or duplicated efforts,” Lisa Mercanti-Ladd, CARSTAR’s executive vice president, says in a statement. The tool can sync real-time online bookings with calendars in more than 180 CARSTAR locations across Canada, the statement notes.

5 Daniel Moses [5] recently joined Everest Insurance Company of Canada as vice president of specialty commercial. Reporting to company CEO David Crozier, Moses has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry and most recently served as vice president, Ontario and Central Region for one of the country’s largest managing general underwriters. At Everest Canada, he will have primary responsibility for the new lines expansion class initiative, notes a statement from the company. “Everest Canada has a broad appetite for a wide range of more specialized casualty coverage and is also building significant property capacity,” the statement adds.

6 Leanne Jefferies [6] has joined the Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada as its new director of collision programs. As part of the senior management team, Jefferies will play a key role in organizing and administering the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF), notes a press release from AIA, a national trade association representing the automotive aftermarket industry in Canada. She will also help with integrating a range of new and existing collision industry initiatives, tying CCIF to I-CAR Canada, devising and implementing recruitment and retention programs, developing marketing and communications tools, and developing relations with Canadian colleges, the statement adds.

7 The Reliance Group of Vancouver has acquired Pat Anderson Agencies, which specializes in small to medium size commercial insurance, homeowner and automobile insurance and supporting insurances, such as mobile home, motor home, boats and seasonal. Reliance Group CEO Jim Ball [7] notes in a statement the Pat Anderson name will remain on the two Burnaby locations. Since Anderson passed away in late 2011, the business has been run by his widow, Sharon Hardy, and his long-time business partner and friend, Paul Towriss, both of whom will remain with the combined agency. “This acquisition was important to us because there are few independent commercially oriented brokerages of any size left in the greater Vancouver region that fit our profile. The resulting synergies, economies of scale and strengthened insurer relationships will enable us to more effectively compete against our bigger rivals,” Ball says.

8 Software provider Applied Systems Inc. has acquired software and connectivity solutions company Insurecom, a move that expands the former’s operations into the United Kingdom and will help with delivering enhanced customer support and new products to the U.K. market. Insurecom, which will now operate as Applied Systems UK, has been the exclusive distributor of Applied TAM to insurance brokerages in the U.K. Applied TAM has a user base of more than 100,000 insurance agents and brokers across the U.K., the United States and Canada. Jeff Purdy, senior vice president of international operations for Applied Systems, will oversee Applied Systems UK, working with the Insurecom management team.

9 Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. has named Caryl McKay as provincial manager for Manitoba and Cheryl Hanson as provincial manager for Saskatchewan. With more than 17 years of experience working in the Winnipeg office, McKay will be the leader and mentor for staff in Winnipeg and Brandon. Hanson, previously managing professional of the Saskatoon and Regina offices, will continue to work with the operations teams in Saskatchewan to promote new business and nurture existing relationships, notes a statement from the company.

10 Western Financial Group announced in August that Jeff Burke [10], who leads the company’s brokerage network, will replace founder and Senator Scott Tannas as CEO January 1. Burke became president effective September 1. Tannas will work with Burke during the transition period, Western noted in a statement. After January 1, Tannas is scheduled to assume the new role of vice chairman, focusing on governance, community relations and employee relations, as well as providing counsel on acquisitions. High River, Alberta-based Western Financial Group is owned by Desjardins Financial Group. Since 2012, Burke has been president and CEO of Western Financial Group’s network of insurance brokerages. In his new role, Burke will also lead all of Western’s core business units, including Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions, Western Financial Insurance Company (Petsecure) and Western Life Assurance, which was originally the Canadian arm of Federated Mutual. In addition to those units, Western Financial Group also owns a chartered bank (Bank West), a direct writer (Western Direct Insurance) and Marlin Travel. Before he joined Western Financial, Burke was senior vice president at Allstate Canada Group.