Topic Management
Two examples of good ‘social’ practices under ESG
November 22, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHaving clear policy wording is one component of the “social” part of environmental-social-governance (ESG) practices, suggests senior official with Canada’s financial services regulator. “It’s increasingly clear that insurers need to focus on policy wording to avoid adverse court decisions as…
What OSFI’s insurance head says about return-to-work
November 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachStaff retention, professional development and the risk of worker isolation are among the factors the industry needs to think about when deciding on an approach to working remote or in the office. “As the pandemic eases and restrictions are lifted,…
How Willis Canada is handling remote work
November 12, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAdopting a hybrid work model makes sense for Willis Towers Watson Canada because the brokerage’s leaders learned it could trust employees who were working remotely. “We saw that during the pandemic, our productivity actually increased,” said Ofelia Isabel, managing director,…
Stability, finally? What insurers and brokers can look forward to in 2022
November 12, 2021 by Brooke SmithBrokers and insurers may see some stabilization in the market in 2022. “We saw tremendous rate pressure, high operating ratios, and low ROIs in 2019 and 2020,” said Kevin Neiles, president, Western Canada and chief markets officer at Gallagher, during…
Get your brokers back to the office: BFL CEO
November 4, 2021 by Greg MeckbachBarry Lorenzetti is encouraging you to get your brokers back to the office and if you disagree, don’t hesitate to contact him for a public debate. “It’s not as if COVID is going away and we will shut off COVID…
6 tips for flexible work arrangements when everyone has different needs
November 3, 2021 by Jason ContantAs employees increasingly return to the physical office in one form or another, one thing is certain: it will be tough to satisfy everyone and there will always be employees who want or need something else. So, what’s a leader…
Diversity, equity and inclusion: Asking the ‘uncomfortable’ questions
October 22, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf you think it’s a challenge to improve diversity at your brokerage, you should also view it as an opportunity, Ontario brokers heard Wednesday at the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario convention. Many brokerages are family-operated, Gore Mutual chief people…
Job opening: Lead this global Top 3 brokerage’s Canadian operation
October 14, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf you think you have what it takes to lead Willis Towers Watson’s Canadian corporate risk and brokerage business, the job is open and it’s not too late to apply. “We’re currently interviewing,” said Ofelia Isabel, managing director, Toronto market…
The latest acquisitions from Westland and Hub
October 7, 2021 by Jason ContantLarge brokerages Westland Insurance Group Ltd. and Hub International Limited have both announced recent mergers and acquisitions activity. On Tuesday, Surrey, B.C.-headquartered Westland said it had acquired personal and commercial lines brokerage Insurance Unlimited in Mississauga, Ont. The following day,…
Where former RSA Canada president and CEO Martin Thompson is now
September 28, 2021 by Jason ContantMartin Thompson, until recently CEO of RSA Canada, will be stepping in as interim Group CEO of Brit Ltd., which is owned by Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Brit, which covers complex risks, said in a press release Tuesday that…
3 steps towards preventing ‘the Great Resignation’
September 21, 2021 by Jason ContantThe global COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a tidal wave of people quitting their jobs in what’s being called “the Great Resignation.” What can employers do to combat this wave of resignations? Take a three-step, more data-driven approach to retention, said…
IBAC reacts to federal election
September 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAs the results from Monday’s federal election come in, your national industry association is promising to educate new members of parliament on why it’s important to keep banking and insurance in separate industry silos. “We congratulate Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau…