RSA Canada exec moves to president & CEO role at independent brokerage

Shawn DeSantis, executive vice president of RSA Insurance, has announced that he will take on the position of president and chief executive officer of a Toronto-based independent brokerage.

After nearly a decade with RSA Canada, DeSantis will be moving to Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management Inc.

“Shawn has played a major role in the growth of the Canadian business,” Rowan Saunders, president and CEO of RSA Canada commented in the announcement. “He helped us move from being 10^th in the marketplace to now, where we are the 3^rd largest insurer in Canada.”

During his time with RSA Canada, DeSantis led a number of major acquisitions for the company, including CNS in 2007, GCAN in 2011 and L’Union Canadienne in 2012. The insurer credits his strong commercial and broker management skills as a major factor in  its “continuing market outperformance.”

“I’ve spent nearly 10 years with RSA and I’ve come to appreciate the depth and strength of the business and desire of its people to succeed and deliver for customers and brokers,” DeSantis commented. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished during this time. I leave with many fond memories and look forward to the opportunity that lies ahead.”

Going forward, the responsibilities for Personal Insurance & SME and Global Specialty Lines at RSA Canada will be divided.

Effective July 1, Donna Ince, RSA’s current vice president for Ontario and national director of Aon APP will take on the role of senior vice president for its Personal and Commercial Insurance segment.

Ince has worked with RSA since 1995, and is active in various professional organizations including the Insurance Institute of Ontario and the Canadian and Ontario Institutes of Chartered Accountants.

Martin Thompson will assume the position of senior vice preisdent of RSA’s Global Specialty Lines business. Martin has been with RSA for 16 years, most recently as Director, Underwriting and Risk for our Scandinavian business. Martin worked in Canada from 2008-2010, and has worked in numerous countries for RSA, including Canada.

“While we will miss Shawn’s contribution to our business, we are fortunate to have such a talented global organization to draw upon,”  Saunders said. “Donna and Martin will report to me as members of our Canadian Executive team, and I expect a seamless transition as we continue to provide our broker partners with brilliant service and exceptional products.”