Topic HR
What 2023 looks like for your small business clients
January 4, 2023 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – Small business owners have a slightly better outlook on the year ahead than a month ago but their short-term outlook has worsened, the latest survey results from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said. The small business…
How to motivate a top performer if you can’t promote them
January 4, 2023 by Jason ContantEvery brokerage has one or more top performers, but what can you do if you can’t promote them? Try developing interim strategies to help these employees get their underlying needs met, advises a new blog from Harvard Business Review. When…
Are your remote workers less engaged?
December 15, 2022 by Jason ContantExecutives’ fears that remote workers are becoming less engaged and spontaneous when working online than they are while in the office may be unfounded, new research has determined. One of executives’ biggest worries about remote work is the reduction in…
Wawanesa names new VP of Ontario for P&C operations
December 14, 2022 by David GambrillSusan Williams-Bonet is Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company’s new vice president of Ontario for the company’s P&C operations. She takes over for Josie Porto, who retires this year following a distinguished 36-year career with Wawanesa. “Together with our broker partners, we…
How MGAs are dealing with underwriter shortages
December 12, 2022 by Jason ContantCanadian P&C managing general agencies (MGAs) are dealing with a lack of underwriters due to increased demand for products and services combined with traditional staff turnover, an industry executive told Canadian Underwriter. “MGAs are, from what we see, the fastest…
Acera Insurance names industry vet as new CFO
December 7, 2022 by David GambrillFayeanne Beattie is the new chief financial officer of Acera Insurance. She has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry in various roles, primarily in finance. Most recently she was the CFO of Gallagher Global Brokerage Americas,…
Do digitally efficient brokerages make better acquisition targets?
December 2, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBrokerage owners shouldn’t just invest in digitization for its own sake, says one financial advisor. They should do it to make a purchase and integration easier for consolidators. Consolidators don’t necessarily expect small brokerages to digitize before acquisition, said Alex…
Does digitizing help smaller brokerages appeal to buyers?
November 28, 2022 by Alyssa Di SabatinoSmall or family-owned brokerages prioritizing digitization strategies will be in a better position to grow through a merger or acquisition, experts told Canadian Underwriter. But it may be easier said than done, given financial or resource constraints faced by many…
Does an immuno-compromised adjuster have to return to field work?
November 23, 2022 by The CIP Society, Insurance Institute of CanadaFor almost three years, there’s been confusion around COVID-19 protocols. It’s made it hard for people to get on with their daily lives. An example of how these stresses burden our industry is illustrated in a dilemma faced by a…
Meet Aviva Canada’s new CFO
November 21, 2022 by David GambrillNav Dhillon will join Aviva Canada as Chief Financial Officer, starting December 2022. “I’m delighted to welcome Nav into Aviva’s executive leadership team,” Aviva Canada CEO Jason Storah said in an announcement. “Nav brings with him a broad range of experience in…
Canadian insurtech announces layoffs
November 16, 2022 by David GambrillVancouver-based insurtech Apollo Insurance has laid off approximately 25% of its workforce of about 125 people across Canada, according to one source familiar with the matter. Employees were told during a 9 a.m. meeting, Pacific Time, according to the source,…
Behind the upcoming CEO change at Westland
November 15, 2022 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance Group is looking to evolve its leadership and talent by bringing in different backgrounds and perspectives, the brokerage’s outgoing CEO, Jason Wubs, told Canadian Underwriter in a recent interview. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Jamie Lyons will become president…