What’s New: In Brief (January 08, 2009)

The KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation has donated more than Cdn$1.3 million to The Hospital for Sick Children.
“KRG is in the insurance business and The Hospital for Sick Children represents a giant insurance policy for children and their families,” says Steven Wise, chairman and CEO of KRG Insurance Group and chairman of KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation.
The donation will be divided between the start-up of an in-house Autism Network, Operation Art (a ceramic painting workshop at Sick Kids Hospital) and various other projects.

The Co-operators has restructured itself and appointed new employees in order to meet growth goals in Quebec.
Jean Vincent will become senior vice president of the newly created Centre of Expertise in Quebec.
The Centre of Expertise is a grouping of departments from L’Union Canadienne, HB Group Insurance Management Ltd. and Co-operators General Insurance Company.
The departments are being brought together to coordinate the group of companies’ business in Quebec. They include marketing, human resources, information technology, claims, finance, actuarial, translation, corporate affairs, administration and member-owner relations.
Ron Pavelack will replace Vincent as senior vice president of L’Union Canadienne.
“I am very pleased that Jean and Ron have agreed to take on these challenging roles, which will be critical to the success of our Quebec strategy,” says Martin-Eric Tremblay, senior vice president and president of Quebec operations. “The new organizational model will allow us to make a better, more-focused use of our staff members’ immense talent and expertise. The Centre of Expertise will serve as the foundation upon which The Co-operators will build sustainable growth in Quebec in the years ahead.”