IBAO elects Doug Heaman as new president

Doug Heaman has been elected as the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario’s (IBAO) 73rd president, officially assuming his role as of Jan. 1.

Heaman was officially inducted at the IBAO Convention in Toronto in October 2015 and formally assumed his role as president on New Year’s Day, the IBAO said in a press release on Monday.

He steps into his role as president with more than 33 years of experience in the insurance industry. Heaman began his career in 1982 working for a local brokerage and within five years started his own brokerage, DW Heaman Insurance. Three years later, he merged with Bradley Gaskin Marshall Insurance, located in Cambridge, Ont., a company that began in 1900.

In 2005, Heaman became sole owner of the company, the IBAO said in the release. “With a vision to change the face of insurance, the office was relocated to Kitchener and rebranded as the Advocate Insurance Group. Advocate has continued to grow organically as well as through acquisition.”

In addition to obtaining his CCIB, Heman is also a certified transformational trainer.

“Insurance brokers provide choice, advice and act as an advocate for their customers,” he said in the release. “I am looking forward to giving back to a profession that provides a valuable service to Ontario consumers.”

Heaman’s presidential theme is “Create Your Future,” based on the famous quote from Abraham Lincoln: The best way to predict your future is to create it.

As president of IBAO, Heaman will lead the implementation strategies for the provincial association. With a focus on educating brokers and consumers, advocating on insurance-related issues and ensuring the sustainability of the brokerage channel, Heaman looks forward to helping Ontario brokers meet the future challenges of the insurance industry, the IBAO said.

“We are so pleased to welcome Doug into his new role as president,” said IBAO CEO Jim Murphy. “He has already made an incredible contribution to the industry with his work on the executive for the last three years and we look forward to an exciting and productive year with him at the helm of our association.”