Moves & Views (August 01, 2010)

1 Two new Ontario Bar Association (OBA) executives are insurance law specialists. Lee Akazaki, the OBA’s new president, is a lawyer at Gilbertson, Davis, Emerson in Toronto. He specializes in personal injury, property damage, coverage disputes, commercial law, professional responsibility and property title defence. Morris Chochla was elected to the newly created position of second vice president of the OBA. Chochla is a partner with Forbes Chochla LLP and is based in Toronto. Paul Sweeny of Evans Sweeny Bordin LLP in Hamilton will be the association’s first vice president. The addition of a second vice president provides continuity in the transition of leadership between incoming presidents, an OBA release says.

2 Paul Spence has been appointed senior underwriter at Catlin Canada, where he will focus specifically on boiler and machinery. Spence has been involved with the boiler and machinery business since 1987, when he entered the insurance industry with RSA Canada. At RSA, he worked in the Ontario Region and later in the risk management unit in different underwriting and marketing roles. In 2002, he joined Chubb, where he extended his existing broker network to include Alberta and B.C.

3 TorQuest Partners, a Canadian-based manager of private equity funds, has made what it calls a “significant equity investment” in SCM Insurance Services (SCM). The exact amount of the investment was not disclosed. TorQuest Partners has more than $700 million of equity capital under management. It has made a number of previous investments in the insurance and insurance services industries, including the creation of a limited partnership in early January 2007 that now operates under the name of FirstOnSite Restoration LP. SCM is an independent, privately owned provider of claims management, risk management and related services in Canada. It has more than 110 offices nationally, with more than 1,400 employees. SCM’s management team will continue to hold a sizable equity stake in the company, according to a joint press release. “The leadership and operations of SCM Insurance Services, ClaimsPro, Forensic Investigations Canada and SCM Risk Management Services will remain unchanged,” the release says. SCM also notes the national launch of iClarify, its proprietary insurance- to-value (ITV) solution, will continue on schedule.

4 The Sovereign General Insurance Company sponsored Pierre-Marc Brunet of MP2B in his recent quest to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in April 2010. Brunet completed the quest of climbing the highest mountain in Africa to raise support for The Foundation Centre de Cancerologie Charles-Bruneau. The Foundation is a Quebec-based facility where children with cancer can receive treatment and where research aimed at finding a cure for the disease is carried out. Brunet was a member of one of three teams climbing the mountain to raise funds for the foundation. In total, more than $1.1 million was raised.

5 Marsh announced the appointment of 59 new managing directors in North America, five of which are Canadian. The 2010 ‘Class of Managing Directors’ work within a number of different risk practice and industry groups within Marsh and are located across both Canada and the United States. “Achieving the milestone of managing director is a significant career accomplishment,” said Dan Glaser, Marsh’s chairman and CEO. “These individuals are being recognized for their outstanding service to clients and leadership in risk innovation and stewardship of the firm.” The Canadian appointments include:

• Patrick Baker [5a], con- struction and design practice;

• Lisa Bartko, Saskatchewan leader;

• Lyne Erwin, consumer practice;

• David Mew [5b], national broking resource; and

• Matthew Yeshin [5c], marine practice.

6 Keal Technology has launched software to support brokers through the implementation of the Ontario auto insurance reforms, which take effect Sept. 1, 2010. To comply with Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO)’s reform standards, a special release of Keal’s Broker Management System sigXP was developed and released ahead of schedule. The most significant change resulting from the reforms for brokers doing business in Ontario is the requirement to use the Ontario Application for Automobile Insurance CSIO (0910E) form, which is now available in sigXP.

7 Gore Mutual Insurance Company is in production with Duck Creek Technologies Inc. to process Gore Mutual’s commercial property policies using Duck Creek’s policy administration system. “This new system for Gore Mutual’s national commercial property line is the first of many releases that will replace their aging legacy system,” the companies announced in a joint press release. Gore Mutual is Duck Creek’s first Canadian customer. It is also the first to implement Duck Creek’s EXAMPLE Platform v4.1, including the new integration hub. “Our solutions are designed on a technology platform that enables customers the flexibility in managing products across multiple business lines including personal, commercial or specialty,” Duck Creek says on its Web site. “Having one platform for all lines of business truly sets us apart. It allows insurers to react quickly to market changes and update products through a single point of change.”

8 CARSTAR Automotive Canada has announced a series of appointments to its corporate management team. Lisa

Mercanti-Ladd [8a] has been promoted from senior director to the assistant vice president of marketing and client services. Lillian Haskett [8b] assumes the role of marketing manager. Michael Macaluso [8c] will serve as quality systems manager. He joined CARSTAR’s insurance team two years ago and was instrumental in getting the company’s CARSTAR Care Centre operating.

Other appointments include:

• MJ Marshall has been appointed to assistant vice president of finance;

• Mike Beier is the newly appointed procurement manager; and

• Matt Bell is the new human resources and training manager.

9 The Co-operators today announced $253,050 in donations to Canadian charities selected by Cooperators staff members, directors and delegates. The contributions are part of the organization’s Directed Donations program, in which staff members each direct $75 of corporate funds and directors and delegates steer $125 to the charitable organization of their choice. In total, 3,164 staff members directed $237,300 to 84 employee-nominated organizations, while 126 directors and delegates steered $15,750 to 80 organizations of their choice. The organizations receiving donations are spread throughout Canada in communities where The Co-operators has offices. Some of this year’s biggest staff-directed donations went to:

• The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children ($23,475);

• The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Calgary ($8,925);

• The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Chapter ($8,700);

• Hope’s Home, Regina ($8,475);

• The Canadian Cancer Society, Guelph ($6,900); and

• Friends of Moncton Hospital ($5,400)