Topic Brokers
Inside Westland’s expansion strategy
January 14, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance has expanded its partnership with Blackstone Credit, which will be investing $250 million towards Westland’s acquisition strategy. And where will this M&A strategy focus next? “Our ambitions are to continue to grow, expand, to serve as many communities…
Is online the best way for consumers to buy insurance?
January 13, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffA small portion of consumers want to buy insurance online without talking to somebody, Robyn Young, CEO of Excel & Y Insurance Services, told Canadian Underwriter in an interview for the December-January issue. “Do I think that’s the best way…
Court gets tough in $10-million “emotional distress” case
January 12, 2022 by David GambrillCanadian courts are starting to get tough on potentially vexatious claimants, including insurance claimants, as seen in a Jan. 7 decision by the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta. In Sun v. Allwest Insurance Services, the Alberta court referred to…
Westland’s M&A war chest expands
January 12, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance Group Ltd., a property and casualty insurance brokerage, has expanded its war chest for mergers and acquisitions, thanks to its partnership with asset manager Blackstone Credit. Blackstone will be investing an additional $250 million towards Westland’s growth, the…
Westland acquires brokerages in Ontario, Alberta
January 7, 2022 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance has announced its first brokerage acquisitions of 2022 — Bunnell Hitchon Insurance Brokers in Ontario, and Rigby Insurance in Alberta. Bunnell Hitchon, in Brantford and Milton, Ont., was founded in 1890 and offers a wide range of personal…
Western Financial rings in New Year with acquisition
January 6, 2022 by Jason ContantWestern Financial Group began the New Year with the announcement that it has acquired a full-service brokerage located in southern Ontario. Western Financial’s latest acquisition of Wiesner Insurance Inc. “adds a significant commercial interest in Ontario,” the large brokerage said…
Willis Towers Watson’s new risk and broking leader for Canada
January 5, 2022 by Jason ContantWillis Towers Watson (WTW) has appointed Erin Magilton as the new risk and broking leader for the brokerage’s Canada region. Magilton has more than 25 years of experience in the risk and broking industry and has held a variety of…
Executive Outlook 2022: Tina Osen, Hub International Canada
January 4, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffTina Osen, President, Hub International Canada One major lesson we have learned is to expect the unexpected. Nothing is a constant and we must be nimble and prepared to pivot quickly. We also learned that transparent, authentic communication with employees, even if it means…
Executive Outlook 2022: Kenny Nicholls, Western Financial Group
January 4, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffKenny Nicholls, President and CEO, Western Financial Group We see a real need for Canada to adopt a more harmonized broker licensing structure across the country. That structure would better enable brokers to work from anywhere in Canada and service customers wherever…
Executive Outlook 2022: Adam Mitchell, Mitchell & Whale Insurance Brokers
January 4, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffAdam Mitchell, CEO, Mitchell & Whale Insurance Brokers There’s no question the pandemic brought unexpected levels of complexity over the past two years, but it has also fast-tracked innovation and the push for much needed modernization in our industry. The world was…
Executive Outlook 2022: Barry F. Lorenzetti, President, BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance
December 31, 2021 by Canadian Underwriter StaffBarry F. Lorenzetti, President, CEO and Founder, BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Inc. The current hard market, combined with the pandemic, has created an environment where insurance brokerage is defined more than ever by that special relationship with our clients. We are…
Executive Outlook 2022: Paul Martin, KRGinsure
December 31, 2021 by Canadian Underwriter StaffPaul Martin, President and COO, KRGinsure Firsts and major lessons defined our 2021. One of the biggest was learning how to bring staff back into the workplace now that there is a COVID-19 vaccine and rapid tests are easily available. I believe…