Topic Management
Wawanesa appoints two industry veterans to new leadership roles
January 26, 2023 by Jason ContantWawanesa Mutual Insurance Company has changed the leadership structure of its Canadian operations with the appointment of industry professionals Anna McCrindell and Graham Haigh to senior vice president and chief operating officer roles. As SVP & COO – East, McCrindell…
Can a new college program draw talent to commercial brokerages?
January 18, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoThe specialized nature of commercial brokering is causing a talent shortage now that veterans are retiring in droves. “I literally get three or four different companies a week that ask for talent, and it’s amplified across the industry,” said John…
Industry veteran joins Westland following acquisition
January 13, 2023 by Jason ContantIndustry veteran Doug Morrow has joined Westland Insurance as its new vice president of commercial insurance for Alberta, the brokerage announced earlier this week. Most recently president and CEO of Excel Insurance Group, Morrow joined Westland as vice president, commercial…
Sedgwick appoints new president, property and international business
January 4, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoTom Simoncic has been appointed as president of Sedgwick’s property and international business. Simoncic joined Sedgwick through acquisition. He is currently president of property for the Americas for the last seven years and is responsible for servicing clients in Canada…
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…
The real reasons behind Canada’s softer D&O market
December 9, 2022 by Philip Porado“Expanded insurer appetite and competition in the primary space,” as well as new capacity in excess layers, helps explain a softening of Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance pricing and limits expansions in Canada, says a recent quarterly market insights report…
New president and CEO at Jones Deslauriers
December 8, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoScott Irwin is now president and CEO of Jones Deslauriers, a Navacord broker partner. He succeeds Eric Osbourne, Jones Deslauriers’ president and CEO of 15 years, who has taken on a new role at Navacord. Jones DesLauriers is a…
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…
Meet BFL Canada’s new president
November 30, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBFL Canada has appointed Lisa Giannone as president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. She succeeds Barry Lorenzetti who founded BFL in 1987. After a 35-year tenure as president and CEO, Lorenzetti will continue to serve as…
Why financing your brokerage ownership aspirations should come last, not first
November 29, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoFinancing is usually the last piece of the brokerage ownership puzzle, suggests one P&C financial advisor, even though 57% of young brokers see financing as their biggest obstacle to ownership, according to Canadian Underwriter survey results. Broker entrepreneurs should ensure…
How young, aspiring brokerage owners can outflank the consolidators
November 24, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWith the older generation of brokers retiring, opportunities are abound for young brokers who want to buy into an existing independent brokerage, said panellists in Canadian Underwriter’s LinkedIn Live event, ‘How to become a young brokerage owner.’ “[Independent broker owners]…
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…