Robert Purves replacing Paul Little as chairman of Echelon Insurance parent EGI Financial

EGI Financial Holdings Inc. of Mississauga, Ont. announced Thursday the new chairman of its board of directors will be Robert Purves, chairman of Purves Redmond Ltd.

In a press release, EGI said Paul Little, president of Westover Investments Inc., is retiring as EGI chairman but will still be a director. The board changes take effect Jan. 1.

EGI provides non-standard auto and other insurance products through subsidiaries Echelon General Insurance Company of Mississauga, American Colonial Insurance Company and Qudos Insurance A/S of Holte, Denmark.

In addition to the new chairman, EGI also announced two new board members. Angus Ross, who has been a director of Echeleon General since 2000, is currently an independent consultant on reinsurance and environmental issues. He is also a former director of the Insurance Bureau of Canada and a former chairman of the Canadian Reinsurance Research Council.

The other new board member is Peter Crawford, a certified general accountant who has been an Echelon director since 2004. He also held various roles at The Co-operators Group Ltd., including chief financial officer and treasurer.

Purves has been a director at EGI Financial since its founding in 1997, and is also past president of the Toronto Insurance Conference. He has an economics degree from the University of Toronto and has 35 years experience in the industry, working in p&c, management liability, marine and surety.

Through its subsidiaries, EGI offers auto insurance to high-risk drivers, liability, legal expense insurance, accident and health, extended warranty programs for homes and consumer purchases and several specialties including business interruption. It is led by chief executive officer Steve Dobronyi.