Moves & Views (June 01, 2010)

1 Aviva Canada, The Economical Insurance Group (TEIG) and The Dominion say they intend to use iClarify validation services delivered by Compu-Quote. Their support continues past the pilot phase of the data validation tool into full production. More than 50 member firms of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) used iClarify data validation services to provide property quotes to more than 40,000 consumers during a recent pilot test. IBAO CEO Randy Carroll says test brokers have been challenging iClarify’s efficiency and data accuracy and are pleased with the initial results. “We have all agreed data accuracy at time of quote is critical to solving the industry’s ITV [insurance-to-value] problem,” said Catherine Coulson, TEIG’s vice president of personal lines insurance. “Our brokers have told us they have seen the benefits of utilizing iClarify,” said Steve Whitelaw, The Dominion’s vice president of underwriting and business information. James Russell, chief underwriting officer at Aviva Canada, added they “expect the new tool will help drive workflow efficiencies as well as improve customer experiences.”

2 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh (MSB) has teamed up with Compu-Quote Inc. to launch a replacement cost calculator. MSB will integrate its RCT technology into Compu-Quote’s RCT EvaluRater product to form the Replacement Cost Technology EvaluRater. The product is intended to “significantly improve the process of determining residential reconstruction value, delivering both immediate and long-term workflow benefits to both Canadian insurance agents and brokers nationwide,” a joint release says.

3 Paul Kovacs, executive director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, has been chosen as a lead author of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. Specifically, Kovacs will serve as lead author of Chapter 26, North America, of the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The appointment is the first step in a four-year drafting process, scheduled for completion in 2014. More than 1,200 people were nominated for the 311 available coordinating lead author, lead author and review editor positions. Candidates underwent a thorough review; input from observer organization representatives and senior leaders in climate science helped determine the final selections. Kovacs has been involved with the IPCC for a number of years, and served as a lead author of Chapter 14 of the Fourth Assessment Report, published in 2007. The work done by the IPCC also earned the group a Nobel Peace Prize — along with former U.S. vice president Al Gore — in 2007.

4 Canada’s Minister of Finance has issued Letters Patent to DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company Limited (DAS Canada), making it the first insurer in the country to specialize in offering legal expense insurance. The company will provide customers with policies that cover costs arising from unexpected legal events. “We are in the process of finalizing provincial licenses in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. and will be offering legal expense insur-ance products through the P&C broker channel this summer,” DAS Canada CEO Barbara Haynes says.

5 Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has launched a two-fold initiative to improve property valuations. One part of the initiative targets insurers; the other is an educational campaign directed towards consumers. For insurers, IBC released best practice guidelines. The best practices offer practical advice about the roles and responsibilities of insurers and their expectations of other principal stakeholders in the habitational valuation process, an IBC release says. For consumers, IBC has launched a Webbased campaign. The campaign highlights the importance of consumers having basic knowledge about their homes. Animated banners on various consumer Web sites will direct consumers to IBC’s Web site. Consumers will find FAQs about home replacement cost and an interactive home assessment checklist. IBC member companies and insurance representatives can access a policy insert and brochure to distribute to consumers, the release adds.

6 The Aviva Community Fund competition is returning again this year, with Aviva Canada offering $1 million to support community initiatives across Canada. This doubles the company’s $500,000 pledge in 2009. The second installment of the competition will begin in the Fall. More than 2,000 ideas were proposed during last year’s competiwith tion. Eight community winners were selected. “This year, we wanted to build on the passion we saw from Canadians in response to the first Aviva Community Fund, by upping our commitment with a $1-million pledge,” says Aviva president and CEO Maurice Tulloch.

7 Nancy McKinstry has been appointed chair of the board of directors of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). McKinstry received the Order of Canada in 2005. She has served on corporate, university and non-profit boards in recent years, and spent more than two decades Odlum Brown Ltd., most recently as a senior vice president and director. Her board experience includes work with Simon Fraser University, the B.C. district of the Investment Dealers Association and the Minerva Foundation for B.C. Women (where she was a founding member and past chair).McKinstry replaces T. Richard Turner as ICBC board chair.

8 SPECS Limited, a provider of independent property damage valuations and cost control services, appointed John McAlister as Prairie regional manager. McAlister will execute SPECS’s business development strategies for the region, drive sales support and marketing activities, as well as build, maintain and strengthen client relationships. Prior to this new role, he served as the branch manager of SPECS’s Calgary branch.

9 Optimum General has chosen to work with iter8 Inc. in the development of a modern, connected broker portal. Optimum General is a Canadian company that underwrites property and casualty insurance through three subsidiaries with eight regional offices. Its products are distributed through more than 600 independent brokers. Optimum is active in four main insurance lines: automobile, personal property, commercial property and liability insurance. iter8 will provide communic8 licensing and services to ensure Optimum’s portal is fully connected to brokers and third-party information sources. communic8 supports all North American standards including ACORD, CSIO, AL3 and XML, as well as proprietary services and networks.

10 St. John’s Downtown Development Commission bestowed an award of distinction on the 2009 RIMS Canada Conference Committee. The ‘Destination St. John’s Award of Distinction’ is presented to a conference chair/committee who, through the hosting of a conference in St. John’s, has generated significant economic benefits and increased the profile of the city. St. John’s served as the host city for the RIMS Canada Conference in September 2009. Betty Clarke [10a] and Marilyn Leonard [10b] served as co-chairs of the conference organizing committee. The RIMS Canada conference injected more than $1 million into the local economy over the course of the conference, said Clarke.