Topic Operations
How the pandemic has shifted employers’ priorities ‘overnight’
May 25, 2021 by Jason ContantMore than one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a massive, “overnight” shift in employers’ appetite towards employee benefits plans, Hub International speakers said during a recent webinar. “There’s a fast movement towards wellness, virtual services, virtual health…
Digital experimentation: How to avoid the shiny object syndrome
May 20, 2021 by David GambrillWhile the insurance industry is hearing a lot of messages these days about the importance of experimenting with new digital technologies — i.e. witness the increased use of terms such as “agility,” “nimble,” “pivoting,” and “failing fast” — a business…
Why the pipeline of diverse talent keeps drying up
May 20, 2021 by Adam MalikMarket conditions have led to broken talent pipelines which, in turn, have had a negative effect on companies being able to have a proper diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) program, a financial executive told a group of risk managers recently.…
New president for Liberty Mutual Canada
May 19, 2021 by Adam MalikLiberty Mutual Canada veteran Rob Marsh will become the company’s new president, effective next week. Marsh will succeed Garth Pepper, who will be moving up the company’s ladder to take the role of president of global risk solutions for the…
Big Moves: The P&C industry’s recent executive shuffles
May 17, 2021 by Jason ContantIntact Financial Corporation, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company, and brokerages NFP and Westland Insurance Group all announced changes at the senior executive level over the past week. Patrick Barbeau, Intact Patrick Barbeau will become Intact Financial Corporation’s executive vice president and…
Risk-averse insurers need to embrace failure to find success: insurtech exec
May 14, 2021 by Adam MalikInsurance companies, generally risk-averse, are not used to seeing failure — something they need to get used to when they work with insurtechs that are trying to create a better system for them, says one insurtech leader. Insurers come to…
Restaurants want exemption from reduced wage subsidy as Ontario keeps dining shut
May 14, 2021 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – Restaurant owners say they are concerned about operations as federal subsidies begin to wind down, even as provinces like Ontario extend stay-at-home or lockdown measures. Restaurants Canada is seeking an exemption from the federal government’s scheduled phase-out of…
Industry exec reverse-engineers innovation to show the imperative of diversity
May 13, 2021 by Adam MalikA corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) program is essential because it’s driving business innovation, which is a competitive advantage, risk managers heard during a recent web conference. Carla Harris, vice chairman and managing director of Morgan Stanley, spoke at…
Gallagher to acquire certain Willis Towers Watson assets
May 12, 2021 by Jason ContantArthur J. Gallagher & Co. has announced an agreement to acquire certain Willis Towers Watson reinsurance, specialty and retail brokerage operations as part of a proposed “regulatory remedy” for the pending Aon and Willis Towers Watson deal. Under the agreement,…
Aon’s approach to post-pandemic travel and entertainment
May 11, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAs business leaders await an easing of pandemic lockdown restrictions, Aon Plc executives suggest that, going forward, they plan to apply the lessons they’ve learned during COVID-19 regarding collaboration. “We are going to be smart about how we do [travel…
Merger mania: Multiple brokerage deals announced in May
May 11, 2021 by Jason ContantMay 2021 came in with a bang for Canadian brokerages involved in mergers and acquisitions activity, particularly in western Canada and Ontario. Over the course of a week, at least seven acquisitions were announced in the Canadian P&C brokerage space.…
Broker strategies for making it through the hard market
May 11, 2021 by David GambrillBrokers are currently caught between a pandemic and a hard market, with several insurers predicting that Canada’s hard market cycle in property and casualty insurance will last at least one or two more years beyond the end of the pandemic.…