Topic Operations
Ski-Doo maker ramping up operations after cyberattack forced suspension
August 16, 2022 by The Canadian PressVALCOURT, Que. – BRP Inc. says it is ramping up production at four of its factories after a cyberattack brought its operations to a halt earlier this month. The Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo maker says manufacturing sites in Valcourt, Que., Sturtevant,…
Employee engagement: managers need support, too
August 15, 2022 by Jason ContantManagers are in the best position to help their employees’ social and emotional needs in the hybrid workplace, but managers themselves need more support, too, said a recent blog from Harvard Business Review. In this hybrid work world, it can…
‘Quiet quitting.’ Are your brokers at risk?
August 9, 2022 by Jason ContantHigh stress is one reason a broker might choose to leave the industry, but employers should be aware of another phenomenon affecting the broader working community today – ‘quiet quitting.’ Quiet quitting is silent withdrawal from the overbearing pressure of…
Aviva’s Project Bumper: Car repairers lose challenge to FSRA’s cease and desist order
August 5, 2022 by David GambrillCorrection and Clarification Notice: The following article has been updated to correct errors contained in the originally published version of this story. First and foremost, FSCO’s proposed cease and desist order was not in effect at the time the Wardas…
Was 2021 a high-water mark for P&C industry returns?
August 4, 2022 by Glenn McGillivrayDespite turmoil from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that affected everything from the need to work remotely, auto premium rebates and the handling of Cat claims, to the availability and price of building materials and labour, Canada’s P&C insurers still managed…
National Canadian brokerage reports 110% revenue increase
August 2, 2022 by Jason ContantNFP has grown dramatically in Canada over the last three years, with a 110% expansion in revenue, the large national brokerage reported late last month. “NFP in Canada is 20 times larger than it was five years ago,” Scott Saddington,…
How risk pros feel about attending in-person events in the COVID era
July 29, 2022 by David GambrillInsurance is a relationships-based industry, but Canada’s risk professionals appear conflicted about attending in-person industry events again, even after most public health restrictions have been dropped in most provinces, a Canadian Underwriter online survey suggests. On one hand, 69% out…
Is specialization the best route to broker independence?
July 27, 2022 by Jason ContantA bevy of challenges, including M&A frenzy, rapidly evolving technology, automation and directs, has spurred some independent brokerages to focus on specialization. And some are even divesting of personal lines. “From a client perspective, it’s great to have a broker…
Where employers are having difficulty attracting and retaining talent
July 27, 2022 by Jason ContantAttracting and retaining IT and digital talent remains the biggest challenge for companies around the world, and it’s an even bigger problem for employers than it was in 2021, according to a recent survey from WTW. IT/digital talent remains the…
What Navacord’s 15th deal of the year brought into the fold
July 26, 2022 by Jason ContantNavacord Corp. has completed its 15th M&A deal of the year, this one involving a large commercial brokerage known for its risk management expertise with automotive dealerships. Navacord’s latest partnership is with Ottawa-based Binks Insurance Brokers Limited. Founded in 1918,…
By much how did M&A deals increase year over year?
July 19, 2022 by Jason ContantThe M&A market continues to burn red-hot, with deals for property & casualty and benefits brokers in Canada and the United States up 16% in the first half of 2022 compared to 2021, according to M&A advisory firm OPTIS Partners.…
Hard market challenges aside, brokers not racing for the exits
July 12, 2022 by David GambrillCanada’s hard market in insurance remains the Number 1 concern of new and experienced brokers alike, as well as brokerages big and small, according to Canadian Underwriter‘s 2022 National Broker Survey. The gender split among respondents was most prominent, with…