Moves & Views

CSL Global has launched a new business operation in Canada. CSL Global (Canada) Ltd will operate initially from key offices in Toronto and Vancouver, and will provide a range of specialist marine survey and claims handling services including cargo, transit, hull and machinery and P&I. Captain John Hosty will head up the organization. Hosty is a marine surveyor and business manager with more than 25 years of specialist experience in marine, health and safety, hazardous materials management, emergency response and environmental protection. Other key members of the team include Andrew Rayner, Philip Vardon and Ken Rayner, based in Toronto, and Kaivan Chinoy in Vancouver.

Strone has announced a series of director appointments. Joe Pilarcyzk has been appointed to the role of Strone’s director of operations. He has served as a manager for seven-and-a-half years with the company. Mike Kelly has accepted the role of director of business development. He has 20 years of experience within the insurance industry in both claims management and procurement. Stephen Coombs has been appointed director of Ontario sales of Strone.

The CIP Society has honoured four insurance professionals with 2011 National Leadership Awards. Glenn Gibson, executive vice president and global chief strategy office at Crawford & Company, is an award recipient in the Established Leader category. Awards in this category recognize industry veterans who have demonstrated an ability to lead by example and instill a sense of professionalism in others. Three people received recognition in the Emerging Leader category. Awards in this category go to industry professionals who, through early achievements and successes, demonstrate an ability to lead and motivate others. In 2011, the recipients in this category are Andrew Clark, vice president and SME insurance and risk solutions department manager with Marsh Canada Limited; Simon Charbonneau, commercial lines underwriter with AXA Insurance Inc; and Vincent Gaudreau, vice president and insurance broker with Les Assurances Gaudreau Demers et Associés Inc.

Travelers Canada has launched a product designed to limit cyber exposures and manage associated risks. ‘CyberRisk’ is the newest addition to Travelers Financial and Professional Services line. The standalone product has 10 coverage options that address exposures and the ripple effects associated with a cyber-related event. Third-party liability coverage includes network and information security liability; communications and media liability; and regulatory defence expenses. First-party coverage includes crisis event management expenses; security breach remediation and notification expenses; computer program and electronic data restoration expenses; computer fraud; funds transfer fraud; e-commerce extortion; business interruption and additional expenses.

XL Group is growing its presence in Toronto with three new additions to its North America Property & Casualty insurance team. The new hires include Betty Bingler, vice president of sales and marketing; Melissa Plaxton, senior underwriter for excess casualty; and Martina Perdue, environmental underwriter. Bingler joins XL from ACE, where she served as vice president of strategic marketing. In her new role, she will help develop countrywide marketing and distribution strategies for XL’s products. Plaxton will concentrate on developing pricing and coverage alternatives to meet clients’ needs. Prior to her new post, she managed a book of property and casualty business for GCAN Insurance Company. Perdue most recently worked in the public sector as an environmental specialist with Canada’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority. XL intends to draw on her expertise and experience to better understand and address clients’ environmental risks.

Toots (Elsie) Everley, former RIBO president and IBAO territory director, is a recipient of the 2011 Ontario Senior Achievement Award. The award recognizes and honours outstanding seniors who, after age 65, have made significant contributions to their communities. The outstanding voluntary or professional achievement may have occurred in any field of endeavour. Each year, 20 individuals are selected to receive this award. Everley is a member of the Redlake District Lions Club, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and is a dedicated supporter of the Club Day Away Program, which gives seniors an opportunity to engage in activities outside of a hospital setting.

CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc. announced the appointment of Gerry Hughes as CARSTAR’s regional manager in British Columbia. Responsible for heading up CARSTAR’s store sales efforts in the province, Hughes will also work to build and maintain strong relationships with CARSTAR’s existing franchise, insurance and fleet partners. He joins CARSTAR with more than 25 years experience in sales and account management in the B.C. collision marketplace.

Aviva Canada Inc. and Hagerty Canada LLC have partnered to launch the ‘Hagerty Silver Wheel Plan.’ The plan offers Canadian antique and classic car enthusiasts extensive coverage, including agreed value coverage — with no appraisal requirements — and access to Hagerty’s extensive network of products and resources in the United States. As of Jan. 1, all Silver and Custom Wheel policies were to be transitioned to the Hagerty Silver Wheel Plan upon policy renewal. Current Silver and Custom Wheel clients will continue to receive all of the benefits afforded by their existing policy and there will be no changes to existing coverage.

Winmar Franchise Corp. has announced an executive appointment on the West Coast and the opening of a new location on the East Coast. Sean M. Douglas will serve as Winmar’s new regional vice president of British Columbia. Based in Chilliwack, he will be responsible for corporate support for the current Winmar locations in B.C., as well as sourcing and seeking new franchise partners in the area. On the other side of Canada, the restoration firm has announced its newest location, Winmar Amherst Nova Scotia, located at 26 Industrial Park Drive. Jonathan MacDonald will lead the team as project manager/estimator.