Moves & Views

ACE Canada, the Canadian-based operating division of the ACE Group, has appointed Andrew Lawrence [1] as assistant vice president of its commercial risk segment. In this newly created role, Lawrence will be responsible for managing ACE Canada’s relationships in the middle market sector. Lawrence will report to Steven Lucas, vice president of marketing-national accounts. Lawrence previously served as vice president and client executive for a Canadian brokerage firm. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Applied Economics from Queen’s University, a CIP designation, and is currently working towards a FCIP designation.

Risk inspection company SCM Risk Management Services (RMS) has completed its acquisition of Syntech Associates, an independent risk inspection company based out of Calgary, Alberta. Syntech Associates has been delivering residential inspections to Western Canadian clients for more than 25 years. The addition of Syntech’s professionals enhances RMS’s presence in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, RMS says in a press release. As part of RMS, Syntech employees will receive the support of RMS’s national and corporate resources, as well as opportunities for professional development within RMS’s commercial inspections, Fire Underwriters Survey and post loss divisions. Syntech Associates co-founder Cam Schultz will join RMS as a leader for the Western region.

Burns & Wilcox Canada is opening a new office in St. John’s, Newfoundland, as the first step in the company’s plans to build a strong presence in Atlantic Canada. Burns & Wilcox Canada offers more than 300 products to the Canadian brokerage community. It was recently created through the acquisition of the Chesterfield Group. Steve McQueen [3a] will lead the St. John’s office. He joins Burns & Wilcox Canada with more than 17 years of experience in the Atlantic Canada broker community. McQueen will oversee operations for all of Atlantic Canada and is responsible for growing and building the business in the Atlantic region from the regional office headquarters in St. John’s. Donna Payne [3b] also joins the St. John’s office as an underwriter. The St. John’s office is located at 40 Commonwealth Ave., Suites 119 & 120, Mount Pearl, NL, A1N 1W6.

CEP Forensic Engineering Inc. has formed an alliance with hydrocarbon fuel expert J.A. Roberts & Associates, based in Oshawa, Ontario. In this strategic alliance, the companies will share resources and expertise to expand services offered at Canada’s “one-stop-shop” of forensic engineering services. “In addition to our traditional services, we are proud to announce our newest field of expertise in fuel gas fire and explosion accidents and regulatory support with a specific focus on propane, natural gas and fuel oil which will be headed by Jim Roberts,” said Jean-François Joubert, president and CEO of CEP Forensic Engineering Inc. Roberts, president of J.A. Roberts & Associates, has more than 40 years of professional experience in the energy production industry. He has served as a government inspector and investigator in the hydrocarbon fuels sector.

Westland Insurance (AB) Inc. and Alpine Insurance & Financial Inc. have merged and will operate under the Alpine name. Alpine has five offices, located in Canmore, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary. Westland’s office in Calgary will become the new head office for the new entity. Cam Clay and Cathy Clay started Westland in 2004. Ken Hughes and Denise Hughes started Alpine Insurance a decade ago. Alpine Insurance & Financial has a sales volume of more than $35 million in personal and commercial lines insurance. It’s ranked as one of Alberta’s 10-largest insurance brokerages

Paul Davis Systems Canada, Ltd. (PDSC) has announced the appointment of Emmanuel Robitaille as business development director of the company’s Quebec region. In his role, Robitaille will be responsible for new business initiatives in the insurance and commercial-corporate market sectors, as well as overseeing marketing and account management at the regional level. He has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of business development, business relations and business management and administration. As well, he has experience with construction and risk management.

SCM Risk Management Services (RMS) has appointed Colin Smith to the position of senior vice president of operations, information and analytics. He has more than 18 years of experience in business planning, execution, operations and information technology in continuously progressive management positions. Most recently, he was the senior strategic business/technology leader as the CIO at The Economical Insurance Group. During his career, he has held the positions of CEO, chief operating officer, and chief information officer at several insurance related corporations, integrating and managing businesses that served the industry.

Marsh Canada, in collaboration with Guy Carpenter and Northbridge General Insurance Corporation, is launching a Whole Farm Cost of Production Insurance solution for crop and livestock producers called AGRI-PLUS. AGRI-PLUS protects producers from insured events that might cause their annual revenues to fall below their individual historic cost of production levels. The insurance policy is triggered when a producer’s annual revenue falls below a predetermined level, based on the producer’s tax information. It is available to producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The program provides additional protection over and above the various private and public sector insurance programs already available. It addresses the negative effects that drought, excess moisture and high interest rates can have on a producer’s cash flow. Cost of production expenses can range from commodity purchases and veterinary fees to machinery and freight costs.

Brokers looking to measure their performance and growth against their peers will soon have a benchmark. Applied Systems recently announced a survey intended to identify common brokerage attributes that create efficient, effective and sustainable business operations. The insurance software company said survey findings will be shared first with participants and then with the broader insurance industry. “Until now, there hasn’t been a way for brokers to measure the effectiveness of their operations and use of technology relatively to their sustainable growth and profitability,” said Doug Johnston, vice president of partner relations and product innovation for Applied Systems. “This study supports (our) mission to continuously improve the business of insurance.”

Elliott Special Risks LP (ESR), a Markel International company, has appointed Andre Paradis as vice president and branch manager of the Montreal office. Paradis has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. He began his career in 1985 at Travelers working both in personal and commercial lines. From 1989-2002, he held various senior roles at Zurich, including key management roles in Quebec and the eastern region. He joined Markel Insurance Company of Canada (now Northbridge) in 2002 as branch manager and was responsible for all of eastern Canada. ESR is a specialist insurer with offices in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. It was purchased in 2009 by Markel International Insurance Company Limited (MIICL), a London-based specialty property and casualty insurer.