Zurich, Manulife join forces

Zurich Canada and Manulife Financial are teaming up to cross-sell insurance products to small business owners. The national alliance will see Zurich’s brokers refer clients to Manulife for group life and health insurance, with Manulife returning the favor with potential property and casualty insurance buyers. The partnership is a result of the sale of Zurich’s group life and health employee benefits business to Manulife in April of this year.”The sale of our group life and health employee benefits business fits our overall strategy to focus on businesses where we can develop a sustainable competitive advantage,” says Barry Gilway, president and CEO of Zurich Canada in a media release.The alliance will be piloted this summer in Ontario, and rolled out nationwide by yearend.