Moves and Views

1 Bob Fitzgerald [1] has been appointed chief executive officer of SCM Insurance Services, succeeding founder and chief executive officer Larry Shumka, who will become the firm’s first-ever executive chairman. Most recently president of SCM Insurance Services’ adjusting and claims management company, ClaimsPro (a role he will retain until a replacement is found), Fitzgerald and Shumka will jointly manage the transition over this year. Fitzgerald has 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and has held senior executive roles with a number of major organizations. SCM provides claims adjusting, risk management, investigative, surveillance, risk mitigation, medical services, forensic engineering services and risk intelligence services to the p&c insurance industry.

2 George Kalopsis has resigned as president and chief operating officer of Echelon General Insurance Company, one of EGI Financial Holdings Inc.’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries in Canada. Based in Ontario, Echelon General’s coverages include non-standard auto, motorcycles, antique and classic vehicles, trailers, motor homes and recreational vehicles. As well, the company provides specialized insurance programs, such as hard-to-place commercial property, primary and excess liability, credit insurance and extended warranty.

3 CRU Group Inc. announced in January it has acquired the shares of the Toronto-based claims services firm, Maltman Group International. CRU Group’s operations include the Academy of Insurance Adjusters, independent claims adjusting firm Catastrophe Response Unit Inc. and CRU Environmental Services, while Maltman Group’s services include loss adjusting and claims administration in specialty lines and liability. CRU Group executive Carol Jardine [3a] – who has previously held roles as senior vice president of claims services at TD Insurance, and as president and chief operating officer for both Canadian Northern Shield Insurance Company and CUMIS General Insurance Company – will lead the Maltman Group. CRU Group, which also has offices in Florida and Oklahoma, is owned by Gary Winston [3b] and Kyle Winston [3c].

4 Rick Roberts [4], director of risk management and employee benefits for Ensign-Bickford Industries Inc., took on the role of president of Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Inc. on January 1. A member of RIMS for 25 years and its Board of Directors for seven, Roberts previously served as RIMS’ vice president and board liaison to RIMS external affairs committee. Other officers on RIMS 2015 board include Julie Pemberton, vice president; Robert Cartwright, treasurer; and Jennifer Santiago, corporate secretary, while new to the board in 2015 is Robert Zhang. RIMS past president Carolyn Snow remains on the board and other incumbent members are Gordon Adams, Gloria Brosius, Al Gorski, Leslie Lamb, Steve Pottle (director of risk management services at York University), Frederick Savage, Lori Seidenberg and Janet Stein (director of risk management and insurance for the University of Calgary).

5 The Co-operators General Insurance Company reports one of its subsidiaries has purchased Bill Hartley Insurance Services Ltd., a brokerage in Victoria that provides home, auto, farm and commercial insurance policies. “We’re pleased to be strengthening our presence and growing our agency distribution system in British Columbia and across the country, which is a key part of our growth strategy,” says Kathy Bardswick, president and chief executive officer of The Co-operators. Existing insurance coverage will remain in effect, although as policies expire, clients will be offered comparable policies from The Co-operators.

6 Independent Broker Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, has launched a new fleet management telematics offering that uses technology from Quindell Plc. The product includes the provision of an overall driving score for each commercial operator to manage and understand driver behaviour. The data is owned by the consumer, with brokers having viewing access upon receiving consent from the fleet manager.

7 Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance is expanding into the Canadian market and has secured office space in Toronto. In Canada, where it is licensed to conduct business, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty “underwrites on the paper of National Liability & Fire Insurance Company,” the company reports. Scott Miller, who has worked at General Reinsurance Corporation and Aon Reed Stenhouse; Darryl DeSouza, who has worked at AIG, Swiss Re and General Accident Assurance Company; and Michael Densham, a former vice president and Canadian zone manager for Chubb Group of Insurance Companies; will lead the company’s property, casualty and executive and professional lines operations, respectively, in Canada.

8 Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. has announced five new appointments in Ontario. Spencer Bailey [8a] is now Crawford Canada’s property and casualty supervisor, Toronto West, Deborah Mannisto [8b] is branch manager of the Thunder Bay office, Michael McLeod [8c] is branch manager for Waterloo and Owen Sound, Kelly Stevens [8d] is branch manager for Toronto West, and Nancy Costa [8e] is national account executive.

9 Allianz Worldwide Partners and The Co-operators Group have merged their respective Canadian travel insurance companies. The merger of Allianz Global Assistance Canada and TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators has created a business that will operate as Allianz Global Assistance. Daniel Wichels [9], a past chief financial officer at Allianz Global Assistance for the Americas, will serve as chief executive officer of Allianz Global Assistance in Canada. Allianz Worldwide Partners S.A.S. owns 55% of the combined legal entity and AZGA Service Canada Inc. Co-operators Life Insurance Company owns 45%.

10 In a deal that took effect December 1, 2014, brokerage RRJ Insurance Group has purchased Bernhardt Insurance Service, based in Kitchener, Ontario. Bernhardt Insurance will operate under the Pioneer Insurance Brokers name and work out of its Kitchener location.