Moves & Views (March 01, 2010)

1 Cunningham Lindsey Canada announced a series of appointments and the expansion of its Ontario operations.

Tracy Drew [1a] has been appointed director of sales for Cunningham Lindsey Canada, where she will be expanding the firm’s customer base across the country and increasing awareness of specialized claim solutions. Drew has more than 25 years experience in the insurance industry. She has worked as an adjuster and as a business development representative specializing in public entities.

Brad Arnold [1b] will be joining the company as branch manager of the Clinton and Stratford, Ontario offices. A graduate of Fanshawe College, Arnold holds a CIP and FCIP. He has worked as an underwriter for an insurance company and has been a field adjuster for the last 10 years.

Also, Cunningham Lindsey Canada has expanded its Ontario operations, opening a new office in Cornwall. Diane Lefebvre [1c] will serve as branch manager. She was most recently an adjuster at CLC’s Ottawa location. Lefebvre brings more than a decade of claims experience to the role.

2 Daryl Doiron has rejoined McLarens Canada as a senior adjuster in the Edmonton, Alberta office. Doiron has 25 years of experience in claims adjusting, specializing in major casualty and property claims, as well as in complete liability management.

Lisa Foster has been appointed marketing and communications manager with McLarens.

Foster will be responsible for advancing McLarens’ strategic plan. This involves developing and executing marketing and communications initiatives to all internal and external stakeholders, as well as promoting the McLarens brand.

3 Trevor Hibbs has joined CULE Insurance as vice president of business development. Hibbs’ extensive marketing background will allow him to expand the CULE portfolio across Canada in conjunction with provincial broker connections.

4 Quebec-based CEP Forensic Engineering Inc. has opened a Toronto office. Heading up the new location is Michael Fulcher [4], an electrical engineer with 30 years of experience with Hydro One and OPG in power equipment maintenance and operations. Fulcher also has considerable experience in the foren- sic field, specializing in large industrial losses, utility claims and product liability. Initially the Toronto office will focus on electrical related losses; support in other engineering fields will be supplied from Quebec offices as required. Eventually, the Toronto office is expected to be self-sufficient in all major forensic fields.

CEP has transferred Mike Rushton from its Laval office to its Ottawa office as a fire investigator. The transfer is part of CEP’s strategy to expand its Ontario operations.

5 ClearRisk Inc. is now providing insurance brokers with online risk management solutions designed to attract and retain clients, creating a better book of business and cost-effectively increasing profitability. “Our Web-based software products were developed to help regional insurance brokers provide services comparable to those offered by large multinational brokers,” ClearRisk CEO Craig Rowe said in a release. “Using ClearRisk Manager, brokers can affordably — and with little or no risk management training — provide their clients with risk management plans, risk maps, risk management resources, software and more.” More information can be found at: www.clearrisk.com

6 The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) has launched a social media campaign featuring a new blog, Twitter account and Facebook ‘Fan’ page.

IBAO’s goal with the campaign is to further develop and empower its community of brokers to better educate consumers and media on insurance-related issues and coverage tips. The social networking initiative is to keep stakeholders informed of upcoming initiatives, press releases and community events. The campaign will also further develop as the year progresses, with new forms of social media strategies gradually being introduced. “We are so excited to dive into the dynamic world of social media,” said IBAO CEO Randy Carroll. “This initiative will allow the association to reach out on a whole new level to our membership, consumer community and the media.” The blog can be found at: www.ibao.org/blog

‘Tweets’ can be followed at: www.Twitter.com/ibaontario

7 The Economical Insurance Group (TEIG) will donate $25,000 to the disaster relief efforts underway in Haiti. “TEIG’s philosophy has always been ‘Neighbours helping neighbours,'” said Noel Walpole, TEIG’s president and CEO. “Right now the people of Haiti need good neighbours. TEIG joins millions of Canadians in sending our support, thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by the devastation.”

8 Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has re-branded itself. The new logo prominently features a dark red maple leaf and identifies IBC as a national trade organization and “Canada’s trusted voice in insurance.” Within the maple leaf are three rays, intended to represent Canada’s private home, car and business insurers. A press release says the three rays symbolize IBC’s “lasting commitment to issues that matter both to the industry and to consumers.” Overall, the release adds, “the transformation symbolizes IBC’s renewed commitment to focus on relationships with governments and key stakeholders, foster goodwill with consumers and position IBC with Canadians as the trusted voice of the property and casualty insurance industry.”

9 Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. is introducing its Crawford Contractor Connection service to the Canadian property and casualty marketplace. Crawford Contractor Connection is intended to provide insurers with an efficient, high-quality, managed repair vendor network for residential and commercial property claims programs. “Contractor recruitment, estimate reviews, assignment monitoring, re-inspections, issue resolution and contract administration are all handled by Contractor Connection to increase efficiency and reduce customer indemnity costs,” explained Pat Van Bakel, senior vice president of claims operations at Crawford & Company (Canada).

10 Marie McNamee has been appointed to the newly created position of marketing manager at STRONE. In her new role, she will be instrumental in developing and executing STRONE’s corporate and regional branch marketing strategies. She will be focussing on relationship management, branding and industry-positioning initiatives. McNamee has 25 years of experience in the property and casualty industry. Most recently, she served as senior manager, marketing and communications for a Canadian insurer.

11 The CG&B Group Inc. has acquired Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance Ltd. This brings CG&B into the yacht insurance business, expanding their current product and service line. Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance Ltd. provides customized insurance coverage to meet the needs of individual boat owners. The Robertson & Robertson operation will be integrated into CG&B’s Markham, Ontario office and continue to operate under the Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance Ltd. name.