Topic Management
‘We have a lot of work to do’
October 3, 2020 by Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorHow can the Canadian P&C industry ensure its workplaces reflect the communities they serve? We asked senior industry executives what can be done to make sure everyone feels respected and valued, regardless of demographic factors such as gender, skin colour, sexual orientation or gender identity. Here’s what they told us….
Doubling down on specialty
October 2, 2020 by Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorBernard McNulty, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s new chief agent for Canada, explains the impact of the pandemic and what changes may be in store
Brokerage M&A roundup: Westland and BrokerTeam announce deals
October 2, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWestland Insurance Group and BrokerTeam Group have both announced separate deals this past week. Westland Insurance Group Ltd. acquired two Alberta brokerages, effective Oct. 1. Surrey, B.C.-based Westland announced Friday it closed the acquisition of Carstairs, Alta.-based Ironside Insurance Brokers…
How insurers are shifting investment strategies amid the pandemic
September 30, 2020 by Greg MeckbachChanging the mix of real estate portfolios, selling international exposures and considering increasing insurance prices are among the measures Canadian insurers are taking to compensate for the impact of COVID-19 on investment results. Intact Financial Corp.’s investment portfolio turns over…
The pandemic-induced change Intact says has ‘proven to work’
September 28, 2020 by Greg MeckbachInsurers who sent most of their employees home to work have demonstrated remote access can indeed work — and even offer co-workers an opportunity to get to know each other’s families better — but it may be challenging over the…
Selling a career in insurance? Try this approach….
September 21, 2020 by Adam MalikWhen a student or recent graduate asks what they’ll be doing if they were to work in the property and casualty insurance industry, it’s important to give them a detailed sense of what any given career in the industry might…
Veteran brokers are seeing their first-ever hard market. What they need to know.
September 18, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBrokers with more than a decade of experience could be experiencing their first real hard market right now, and they could probably use some advice about how to break bad news during renewals, an Alberta managing general agent (MGA) suggests.…
Intact’s rationale for buying this bond and marine brokerage
September 16, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIntact Financial Corp.’s latest “tuck-in” brokerage acquisition is part of its ongoing expansion effort in the United States, chief financial officer Louis Marcotte suggested Tuesday. International Bond & Marine Brokerage Ltd. of Hoboken, N.J., announced Sept. 11 it is now…
The ‘new normal’ workplace that could be coming your way
September 11, 2020 by Adam MalikWhile a rating agency complimented the property and casualty insurance space for pivoting its work environment from the office to employee homes, a new workplace survey has found that Canadian employees are looking for greater flexibility in choosing where they…
The key demographic noticing the industry’s technological pivot
September 9, 2020 by Adam MalikThe property and casualty insurance industry’s response following the global declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it adjusted quickly in numerous aspects, especially technology, has made the industry more attractive to new graduates, according to a recent report. While…
Communicating during COVID: What industry employees want to hear from their leaders
September 3, 2020 by David GambrillOkay, so it appears the pandemic crisis will be with us for a long time, with P&C organization employees already feeling uneasy, worn down, and uncertain about many things — their health, job security, sending kids back to school safely,…
How Fairfax is addressing anti-Black racism
August 28, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe corporate parent of Northbridge Insurance has formed its own anti-racism committee and joined a new Canadian organization that aims to create opportunities for visible minorities and indigenous people in the industry. “We have formed a Black Initiatives Action Committee,”…