Totten Insurance Group founder Ross Totten set to retire in June

H. Ross Totten, longtime president and CEO of Totten Insurance Group, most recently the company’s chairman and chief sales officer, will be retiring June 30, after 43 years as an insurance intermediary.

“It is time for me to move on to the next stage of my life, after having had the privilege of helping to build, and lead, Totten Group in it’s first decade of service to our industry,” Totten said in his message to his colleagues.

“I have been fortunate to have been part of two major Canadian Intermediaries, and to have been surrounded and supported by such dedicated friends and colleagues in both endeavors. To have been a part of Team Totten was indeed my privilege.”

Totten is retiring this year, as he feels Totten Group’s leadership team is now in place as one of the “best in our industry,” a statement from the company noted.

He intends to reactivate the consulting firm he founded before starting Totten Group in 2002 with partners Laura Moses, Mike Callon and Carol Gawrylash. His first client will be Totten Group.

He says he wishes to stay in touch with the industry he enjoys so much and as a consultant he can chose the projects that are of interest to him, and continue to work with his many associates.

“While we will miss Ross’ tremendous impact on the business and his infectious enthusiasm for success, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Ross continued passion, success and drive as he enters the next chapter in his career and life,” Heather Masterson, current president and CEO commented.

Totten became an intermediary in 1970 after four years of company service, and eventually purchased that firm, South Western Group, with his partner Roger Hodgson in 1980. He left South Western in 2002 and founded Totten Group later that same year.

Involved in education for several years, Totten is a  past president of the Insurance Institute of Ontario and past governor of the Insurance Institute of Canada. He is also an Institute course instructor, a frequent speaker at seminars regarding niche or specialty insurance and has written numerous articles on the subject.

Totten was also an early recipient of the National Leadership Award for Established Leaders, presented by the Insurance Institute of Canada.