Moves and Views

1 The Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) has announced that Albert Poon [1a] has replaced David Porter [1b] as CIAA president. Poon, who had been CIAA’s 1st vice president, is director of operations at Cunningham Lindsey Canada Claims Services Ltd. “We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to David for his many years of dedicated service to our association,” notes a CIAA statement. Porter had taken over, from Marie Gallagher, as CIAA president at the association’s annual general meeting in August. At the time, Porter had been vice president, western region for Granite Claims Solutions, the property and casualty operations of which have since been acquired by SCM Insurance Services. CIAA’s constitution stipulates that its executives must be employed by CIAA member firms. Porter, who is no longer with the firm, resigned as CIAA president effective September 19.

2 Kellee Irwin [2] is RSA Canada’s new vice president of western region, personal and commercial insurance. Having more than 25 years of experience in the industry, Irwin has worked for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as vice president, insurance transformation and personal insurance, RSA Canada reports. She has also worked for Allianz, GE Insurance, Markel and Safeco.

3 SCM Insurance Services’ ClaimsPro unit recently welcomed three new executives. Lorri Frederick [3a] is ClaimsPro’s new chief operating officer, Suzie Godmer [3b] is the company’s new senior vice president for the Quebec region, and Greig Boyle [3c] is the company’s new senior vice president operations for the central region, the company announced in August. Frederick is a former executive vice president of operations at ClaimsPro and previously worked at Cunningham Lindsey Canada; Godmer has been with ClaimsPro for 13 years; and Boyle is a former branch manager, vice president of operations and executive vice president, national operations for Granite Claims.

4 The Co-operators Group Limited announced in September that TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators, as well as its SelectCare Worldwide subsidiary, will merge its travel insurance operations in Canada with those of Allianz Global Assistance Canada. The combined entity, employing more than 600 people, will operate as Allianz Global Assistance, The Co-operators reports. The new entity will be 45%-owned by AZGA Service Canada Inc. Co-operators Life Insurance Company and 55%-owned by Allianz Worldwide Partners S.A.S. It “will benefit from TIC’s extensive distribution network of more than 8,000 brokers and travel agencies throughout Canada,” notes The Co-operators. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The lead underwriter for the new entity will be a subsidiary of The Co-operators. AZGA Service Canada’s new chief executive officer will be Daniel Wichels [4], chief financial officer of Allianz Global Assistance for the Americas.

5 The Insurance Institute of British Columbia (IIBC) has announced the members of its 2014-2015 Governing Council. Mark Francis [5], manager of provincial vehicle registration and licensing at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), will serve as president. The other council members for 2014-2015 include Jennifer Perry, 1st vice president, academic division (Hub International Insurance Brokers); Kerry McLaughlin, 2nd vice president, professional division (ICBC); Manjit Biring, secretary-treasurer (Intact Insurance Company); Jan Brownridge, past president (Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada); Wayne Coates, Vancouver Island chapter president (ICBC); Debra Copeland, chair, marketing and communications (Intact); Sharon Knotts, chair, future directions (The Guarantee Company of North America); Lianne Crawford, chair, seminars (Gore Mutual Insurance Company); Sharon Craver, chair, education (ICBC); Sarah Tung, chair, events (Intact); and Terry Leibel, chair, Okanagan (Capri Insurance Services).

6 Brokerage firm Hub International Limited has selected Applied Systems Inc.’s Epic technology, which allows agencies and brokerages to be on a single system to manage customer relationships, policy administration and financial accounting processes, notes a statement from the companies. “Applied Epic will enable us to manage our rapidly expanding global footprint as we acquire new businesses and strengthen our position to serve more clients worldwide in today’s competitive insurance marketplace,” says Martin Hughes, chairman and chief executive officer of Chicago-based Hub International.

7 Anne Chalmers [7], vice president of risk and security for Vancouver-based mining and resources firm Teck Resources Ltd., is this year’s winner of the Donald M. Stuart Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the risk management profession. The RIMS Ontario Chapter, which began handing out the award in 1979, presented the award to Chalmers September 17 at the RIMS Canada Conference. In her role at Teck Resources, Chalmers leads the firm’s risk group, which is responsible for its global risk management program, oversees loss control, emergency services and the commercial insurance program, co-ordinates the crisis management team for the company’s operations and its partnerships, and chairs the materials stewardship committee. Chalmers has been a member of RIMS since the mid-1980s.

8 At Elliott Special Risks, Clive Fernandes is the new vice president of central region, Tony Picciano is the new vice president of the eastern region, and Marisa Chau has joined as an underwriter with the central region’s environment impairment liability team. As the regional leader in Toronto, Fernandes – who previously served as vice president of mid markets, business insurance for Travelers Canada – will lead the underwriting teams, be responsible for all lines of business within the central region, and be the product line manager for general liability. He has also worked for ACE, Integro Insurance Brokers and Aon Reed Stenhouse. Picciano, for his part, will “manage and lead the underwriting teams in Montreal and will be responsible for all lines of business within the region,” Elliott Special Risks notes. A former vice president, Eastern Canada and Montreal branch manager for Zurich Canada, Picciano has also worked for ACE and American International Group. Chau has previously worked at both Travelers and Chubb Insurance.

9 Marijan (Mario) Smolej is Rochon Engineering’s new senior forensic engineer, specializing in accident reconstruction. Smolej “has 29 years of experience investigating and analyzing over 1,500 motor vehicle collisions in Canada and the United States for the insurance, legal, and trucking industries and municipalities,” notes a statement from Rochon Engineering. Smolej has a mechanical engineering degree, is a licensed professional engineer and is a designated consulting engineer.