Peace Hills Insurance Announces Retirement of President & CEO and Names Replacement

EDMONTON, Alberta –The Board of Directors of Peace Hills Insurance (Peace Hills) would like to announce the upcoming retirement of Diane Brickner, President & CEO and the appointment of Gene Paulsen, CIP as incoming President & CEO effective January 1, 2015.

Diane’s career with Peace Hills spans more than 30 years, and the inception of the company. Her retirement marks the end of a career of firsts: the first General Manager of Peace Hills, who then moved on to become the first female President of an insurance company in Canada in 1990. Her remarkable leadership is responsible for growing Peace Hills from a company in its infancy to a powerhouse that boasts over $198 million in written premiums.

“It’s with mixed emotions that I look forward to my retirement, however it is with certainty that the right decision was made by the Board of Directors to appoint Gene as my replacement. He will be a great steward of the company that we have built and cherish,” said Brickner of the upcoming changes.

Gene Paulsen will assume his new role as President & CEO after two years of service as Vice President,

Underwriting & Marketing. Gene will be working closely with Diane to ensure a smooth and orderly transition into his new role. Gene’s familiarity with Peace Hills’ culture is something that was very important to brokers, staff and the Board of Directors.

Gene has extensive experience in the insurance industry, with early beginnings as an adjuster. He has held positions with Kernaghan Adjusters, Manitoba Public Insurance, Guardian Insurance, Royal Sun Alliance and Economical Insurance Group before joining Peace Hills in 2012.

About Diane Brickner, CIP, ICD.DDiane started with Peace Hills Insurance at its inception in 1982 and has overseen the expansion into all provinces and territories west of Manitoba. Since 1982, the company has grown from a company of three to employ over 190 people in British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta. 

Both the business and insurance communities recognize Diane’s exceptional leadership and she has been honoured with Alberta Venture’s 2013 Business Person of the Year, the Chartered Insurance Professionals’ Society National Leadership Award- Established Leader (2012), the Award of Merit from the Insurance Institute of Canada (2008), the Dr. Charles Allard Chair of Business from MacEwan School of Business (2008), the Woman of Distinction in Business from the Edmonton YWCA (1995), and the Insurance Woman of the Year from the Canadian Association of Insurance Women (1990).

Her business and community involvement is as extensive as her list of accolades, currently holding board positions with the Board of Governors for NAIT, a Director of the Board for the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation, Director of the Board for the Insurance Bureau of Canada as well as Peace Hills Insurance. Her past Board positions include the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club, Western Financial and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

About Peace Hills Insurance

Peace Hills Insurance is a licensed, general insurance company, which has been insuring Western Canadians since 1982. Committed to exceptional claims service, PHI is dedicated to providing courteous and efficient service. PHI employs over 190 employees who serve over 478 broker offices across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon Territory.

For further information, please contact:

• Brenda Simioni
• Corporate Underwriting & Marketing Manager
• (780) 945.2869 or bsimioni@phgic.com

http://peacehillsinsurance.com