Passing The Torch

It happens so often to qualify as a constant. Delegates at insurance functions across Canada will approach Canadian Underwriter staffers, ask a few questions, then move the conversation to their point. “Where’s Jan?” they’ll ask. Some use a nickname — La La, as she’s affectionately called — and the staffer will confidently say she’s around. Always. Walking the trade floor, wearing a trademark big hat, bag strewn over her shoulder, Canadian Underwriter red and white jacket on. Talking business, or networking with delegates and exhibitors alike. This is just one of the lasting images of Canadian Underwriter group publisher Jan Lowther, who recently announced her retirement from the publication and the insurance industry.

Jan leaves on a high note. In being awarded the Insurance Marketing Communications Association Golden Torch Award, honouring outstanding contributions to insurance communications, she breaks two barriers becoming the first Canadian and first woman recipient. She is known throughout the industry in Canada, in the U.S., and in Europe, where she was invited in the early 90s to tour Lloyd’s London operations and address UK insurers. She takes the accolades in stride. “The appreciation is great, and the award is real nice. What’s better though is that I’ve heard some people I hadn’t heard from in years,” she remarks.

For Lowther, the award is good. The networking, the communications that result from it though, they are invaluable. She is able to reduce everything to networking in a manner most motivational speakers would envy. “Take business, for example, it’s quite simple,” she says. “Find the niche. Fill the need. Deliver on time and collect your money. And everyone is happy.”

Meeting point

Jan’s career path has established her as a conduit bringing publishing, insurance and human resource together into one package. Take one look at her CV and it’s no wonder she has become an unofficial job placement specialist industry-wide.

She was born in Chatham, Ontario, a town directly between Toronto and Windsor. Publishing came first, in high school she began working for the advertising manager of the Chatham Daily News. While enrolled at University of Western in London, Ontario, she worked part-time as a recruiter for London & Midland Insurance. Bachelor degree in hand, Lowther relocated to Windsor and worked for R.L. Polk (Statistical) Publishers in Detroit, Michigan. Working out of Detroit, she also spent time working for a Chicago-based executive search company. In 1974, Jan moved to Toronto, spending two years as director of personnel at Great American Insurance before being recruited to Canadian Underwriter magazine by Al Wadam, president of Wadam Publishing, becoming the first woman sales person in company history. That was 1976. By 1982, she was CU’s group publisher. Soon after, Southam Inc. purchased Wadam Publishing and with it, Canadian Underwriter.

Jan has spent the past 30 years in media, but her other gifts have not stagnated. Many industry members (and previous Canadian Underwriter employees) laud her continued assistance and consultancy when determining career moves. And, at Southam, she has become an internal hiring guru, one of the senior managers to whom people look for career guidance.

She believes the industry must continue to emphasis interaction in order to successfully work together. “Everything is about relationships, about communication. But you’ve got to keep at it, communicating and meeting people face to face to succeed.”

Honor and acclaim

Jan takes greater pride in the continued success of Canadian Underwriter and its ancillary publications then she does regarding awards and acclaim. The CU web-site, one of the earliest in the industry, is a source of particular pride. “We started the site in 1995. We always like to be first. It was a chance to open up the Internet and have a look at what we can do there.” In today’s market, when every company is online, it is easy to lose sight of who was first.

She does not talk a great deal about what is in store for the future. Jan says it’s time to relax. “I’m going to turn over the reins to [senior publisher] Steve Wilson and this extremely competent staff. Also, I’ll take a little break,” she says, but with the devilish glint in her eye that friends, co-workers and the entire insurance industry have come to know and appreciate.