Topic HR
Better productivity in the office? Think again, HR survey finds
July 7, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoRemote work is now tied with the office as the place to do the most productive work, according to a new survey by recruitment and employment services provider Robert Half. Forty-two per cent of professionals report accomplishing more work at…
Why career conversations and experiments are key to employee retention
July 6, 2022 by Jason ContantFocusing career conversations on progression, not promotion, may be one way to convince your top producers to stick around. Spotting employees’ strengths and then creating connections for them within the organization to have ‘curious career conversations’ is one solution to…
Alongside the hard market, brokers face talent crunch
July 4, 2022 by David GambrillCanada’s hard market continues to be brokers’ Number 1 concern, with impacts being felt in several key areas — namely, workloads, resources, pay structures and work satisfaction, our 2022 National Broker Survey found. “Companies not wanting to write risks,” one…
Meet CatIQ’s new president and CEO
June 28, 2022 by Jason ContantLaura Twidle will be the new president and CEO of Catastrophe Indices & Quantification Inc. (CatIQ), taking over from company founder and well-known insurance industry figure Joel Baker on July 1. Twidle has served as CatIQ’s managing director since 2019.…
How the industry can better promote 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion
June 27, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoMany Canadian P&C companies have shown their support for 2SLGBTQ+ Pride by emblazoning their company logo in rainbow colourways. But creating employee-resource groups, recruitment practices and marketing that embraces 2SLGBTQ+ employees, stakeholders and policyholders is critical for moving the dial…
Why portfolio simplification and shareholder activism matter
June 21, 2022 by Jason ContantTo successfully lead a company through an era of constant change, a CEO should consider simplifying the company’s portfolio and prepare for shareholder activism, a Harvard Business Review blog says. Inflation, geopolitics, supply chain issues, labour costs, divisiveness, unsettled equity…
Commissions may not compensate brokers for rising workloads
June 21, 2022 by David GambrillCommission structure doesn’t always compensate for the time brokers must spend preparing for prospective business, only to have a client reject the proposal, said a broker responding to Canadian Underwriter’s latest National Broker Survey. “If I go to a dentist,…
Yes, COVID-19 really did boost broker workloads
June 20, 2022 by David GambrillWhile the pandemic created extra work for brokers, it also highlighted the value of the broker proposition, which includes, choice, advice and advocacy, according to Canadian Underwriter‘s 2022 National Broker Survey, which asked more than 250 brokers nationwide about challenges…
P&C industry’s predictions for Ontario’s finance minister
June 13, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWith the Ontario election in the rearview mirror, and Doug Ford re-elected as premier with a sizeable majority, the P&C industry is eagerly awaiting to hear who the next finance minister will be. But political pundits and insurance experts predict…
Gore Mutual names new CIO
June 9, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffJames Warburton has joined Gore Mutual Insurance Company as chief information officer, effective this week. He’ll lead Gore Mutual’s technology team through the next phase of its ‘Next Horizon’ digital transformation, which aims to create “a purpose-driven, digitally led, national…
Industry veteran elected to Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s board
June 9, 2022 by Jason ContantDesjardins Group’s Marilyn Horrick has been elected to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) board of directors. OCC president and CEO Rocco Rossi announced new members to the chamber’s board of directors last month. Horrick, senior vice president for Desjardins…
Where M&A strategies are leading brokerages, big or small
June 6, 2022 by Jason ContantLarge Canadian P&C brokerages continue to make national expansion a component of their acquisition strategies. National brokerage Navacord partnered with Abatis Risk Management (Abatis Gestion de Risques inc.) in March, which was Navacord’s first partnership in Quebec, according to Navacord…