Sylvie Paquette appointed chair of the board of the Insurance Bureau of Canada

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) announced on Tuesday that Sylvie Paquette has been elected by its board of directors as chair of the board.

Paquette is president and chief operating officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) and has served on the IBC board since 2010.

Kenn Lalonde, executive vice president, insurance, TD Bank Group and president and CEO, TD Insurance, has been elected as IBC’s deputy chair.

“The pace of change in Canada’s private property and casualty insurance industry continues to increase,” Paquette said in a press release. “The market and consumers both demand more from insurers, and they require it more rapidly than ever before. I look forward to working with IBC and its other member companies to ensure that our strategic priorities meet the needs of Canadians.

Paquette has been with Desjardins since 1984. Prior to being appointed president and COO of DGIG in 2008, she held a number of progressive leadership positions in the organization.

“Sylvie brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience to this role,” IBC president and CEO Don Forgeron said in the release. “She is passionate about educating consumers and governments about the key issues facing our industry. Her leadership will help us advance our strategic priorities, including promoting sustainable and affordable auto insurance systems across the country and helping protect Canadians from the impact of severe weather.” 

Paquette has a degree in actuarial science from Quebec’s Université Laval and is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. She is also on the board of directors of several P&C insurance industry organizations and is recognized for her community involvement, the release said.