Moves and Views

1 Everest Insurance Company of Canada (EvCan) has appointed David Crozier to the position of CEO, effective January 21. Crozier was most recently senior vice president of operations for Economical Mutual Insurance Company, where he had oversight of all field operations, including claims, sales and distribution. He joined Economical in 2006 as vice president of commercial lines and previously held positions at Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, most recently as vice president for the Prairies. Mark Teitelbaum will continue as president of EvCan with primary responsibility for the Premiere Underwriting Services operation, which focuses on entertainment, sports and leisure insurance products.

2 Justin MacGregor [2] has been named Avec Insurance Managers Inc.’s new executive vice president. A former executive vice president of Martin Merry and Reid Ltd., MacGregor has held various positions with Sedgwick Marine and Cargo, Willis Canada and Hugh Wood Canada Ltd., where he was president. He has also served as both chairman and president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada. In 2005-2006, he was president of the Toronto Insurance Conference, notes his LinkedIn profile. Avec provides marine and several commercial covers, including boiler and machinery. Its marina and boat dealers composite insurance covers several risks in one policy, such as property, hull, protection and indemnity, commercial general liability, marina operators liability and limited pollution.

3 Online financial comparison website, Kanetix.ca, has launched a new mobile app that allows users to scan and compare auto insurance quote estimates from their iPhones. The free Kanetix Car Insurance Quick Quote app is a first in Canada, the company reports, adding that it is available through the Apple App Store. Using the app, consumers can compare quote estimates ranked low, medium or high; scan in car VINs for quote updates; save quote and vehicle details for repeat visits; get policy renewal reminders delivered to their phones; and connect to Kanetix in one tap.

4 CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc. has appointed a number of senior officials as part of a business transition plan in the works for three years. Michael Macaluso [4a] has been named CARSTAR’s new chief operating officer, Lisa Mercanti-Ladd [4b] has been appointed executive vice president and M.J. Marshall [4c] will continue in the company as vice president of finance. Macaluso joined CARSTAR in 2008 as manager of insurance relations and has since held the positions of director of quality systems and most recently assistant vice president of operations. Mercanti-Ladd was previously CARSTAR’s vice president of marketing and client services. Marshall joined the company in 2005 as a controller. Mercanti-Ladd and Marshall will report to Macaluso, who will report to Sam Mercanti, CARSTAR’s president, CEO and chairman of the board. Mercanti will remain as the chairman while Larry Jefferies will be executive vice president, ex-officio. Dennis Concordia will continue as vice president of human resources. CARSTAR Collision & Glass Centres has also opened a location in Medicine Hat, owned by Bruce Hemstreet and Trevor Jones, with Dale Critchlow managing the store.

5 The Dominion has launched a tablet version of its commercial insurance quoting portal for brokers, available for Apple Inc.’s iPad and Research in Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry Playbook. E-CLIPS is the insurer’s quoting portal for small and mid-sized businesses. The mobile portal now allows brokers to provide quotes and do business from anywhere with an Internet connection, aiming to reduce customer wait times and streamline the quote process. “We know agility is important for our broker force, and we’re working to ensure our technology supports them,” says Shelagh Paul, vice president of corporate communications at The Dominion. “The Dominion believes consumers are best served by independent brokers, and we want to leverage their strengths to compete with the direct channel,” Paul adds in a statement.

6 Claims services firm Cunningham Lindsey Canada has launched a new division, Cunningham Lindsey Research Services Inc., which will provide investigative, surveillance and information services to the insurance industry. While the new division is geared toward the Canadian insurance industry, it also services the needs of corporations, lawyers and private individuals, notes a statement from the company. Among the wide range of services for the life and health, and the property and casualty industries are surveillance, corporate investigations, asset searches, statement taking, due diligence, accident reconstructions, undercover operations, stolen vehicle investigations, fraud ring investigations, cargo theft investigations and employee thefts, notes Gary Dalton [6], the company’s senior vice president and executive director.

7 Zurich Canada has launched a new mobile app, providing information to brokers and businesses on commercial coverages and risk management tactics. The app, available for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, offers users information on Zurich coverages by industry segment, relevant risk management tips by industry segment, claims contact information and information-sharing capabilities for brokers and customers to communicate. App users can choose the customer’s industry, identify details about their businesses, select the coverages they need and review relevant risk prevention techniques. Users can then build a customized package of information to share with stakeholders or review later, Zurich notes.

The app can be downloaded through Apple’s iTunes or using the GooglePlay store for Android devices.

8 Elliott Special Risks (ESR) has bid farewell to its senior vice president and underwriting manager, Anne Toms [8], who retired December 31 after 27 years with the company. Toms began her insurance career in 1970 and has worked at the Canadian Indemnity Company, Markel Insurance Company and Reed Stenhouse Ltd. before moving to Elliott Special Risks as a senior underwriter in 1985. She was appointed assistant vice president in 1989, vice president in 1993, took over management of the company’s Primary Liability Department in 2000 and was appointed senior vice president and underwriting manager in July 2009.

9 First Insurance Agencies Ltd. of Campbell River, British Columbia recently joined Western Financial Group’s network of insurance brokerages across western Canada. Marking Western Financial Group’s third acquisition on Vancouver Island in the last year, the company now has offices in Campbell River, Nanaimo, Victoria and Sidney, notes a statement from the company. “We’re experiencing exciting growth across western Canada and believe Vancouver Island offers some of the best opportunities for our company,” Scott Tannas, president and CEO of Western Financial Group, says in the statement. “Our customers will see an improved selection of residential, auto and commercial insurance services,” notes Greg McGill [9a], the company’s regional senior vice president for B.C. The Campbell River office will be part of a growing network of branches featuring property and casualty insurance, life insurance, group insurance, marine insurance and other services. “We are pleased this sale will enhance the overall long-term strategies of both Western Financial Group and First Insurance,” says Kevin Sigouin (9b), vice president of insurance for First Insurance.