Topic Brokers
Can car dealerships manage insurance risks from vehicle thefts?
November 27, 2023 by Philip PoradoCar thefts began rising across Canada in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been climbing ever since – fuelled by organized crime rings using new technologies to steal key fob codes and take vehicles while their owners are asleep.…
Westland appoints new COO
November 27, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDon Thompson has been appointed Westland Insurance Group’s new chief operating officer (COO), the brokerage announced. Thompson will assume the role effective January 1, 2024. He has over 30 years of experience in the P&C insurance industry and is…
These red flags may waive a brokerage buyer off a deal
November 24, 2023 by David GambrillRising interest rates are changing the brokerage M&A environment and giving sellers a shorter timeline to produce the projected earnings. And chances are, if they haven’t produced reliable returns already, the buyers may balk on a purchase, said Yan Charbonneau,…
The latest merger for McDougall
November 24, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoMcDougall Insurance Brokers Limited announced it has merged with Ontario-based M.B. Kouri Insurance Brokers Ltd. The brokerage will join operations with McDougall’s insurance and finance team to operate as an independent brokerage, McDougall announced in a press release. McDougall has…
What Ontario drivers might save by dropping DCPD coverage
November 23, 2023 by David GambrillOntario brokers are questioning the value of the Ontario government’s forthcoming new law allowing drivers to drop out of direct compensation property damage (DCPD) coverage for their cars. DCPD coverage is currently mandatory and protects policyholders in the event of…
Has private equity interest in P&C brokerages peaked?
November 21, 2023 by Jason ContantPrivate equity interest in the Canadian P&C brokerage space is showing no sign of slowing down, industry observers said last week at KPMG’s 2023 Insurance Conference in Toronto. Private equity groups remain eager to acquire Canadian brokerages, said Andrew Mathias,…
IBC calls for feds to lead national auto theft task force
November 20, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoCanada’s auto insurers say the country needs a National Task Force on Stolen Vehicles, and they are calling on the federal government to play a leadership role in tackling record-high auto thefts. While the feds should lead the charge, auto…
Will rising interest rates kill brokerage M&A?
November 20, 2023 by David GambrillReports of the death of brokerage mergers and acquisitions in an era of higher interest rates have been greatly exaggerated. Back in early 2023, Canadian Underwriter’s National Broker Survey noticed a curious phenomenon: brokers’ interest in M&A growth had dipped…
Forget why you fell into insurance. Why’d you stay?
November 17, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoIt might be easier to attract recruits to insurance if P&C professionals reminisced on what keeps them in the industry, rather than voicing the age-old adage of how they ‘fell in‘ to the profession, experts at Reuters’ Future of Insurance…
How Canadian P&C firms are developing diversity
November 16, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoRegardless of where Canadian brokerages are in their efforts to build diverse workplaces, they generally agree on three good ways to get there. When asked what actions brokerages could take to increase diversity, survey respondents advocated promoting diverse talent to…
Marsh McLennan creates new role for Canada and U.S. operations
November 16, 2023 by David GambrillMarsh McLennan has appointed Susan Potter as U.S. and Canada commercial officer, effective immediately. “We are fortunate to have Susan assume this new role,” Pat Tomlinson, Marsh McLennan’s U.S. and Canada CEO, said of Potter’s appointment. “Her exceptional leadership experience,…
Aon’s Thea Baird wins leadership award
November 15, 2023 by Philip PoradoThea Baird, CIP, CAIB, this year’s winner in the Emerging Leaders category of the Insurance Institute of Canada’s 2023 National Leadership Awards has a history of going the extra mile. “You can message me at three o’clock in the morning…