New president, chief operating officer for Lussier Dale Parizeau

Quebec brokerage Lussier Dale Parizeau (LDP) has announced the appointment of Michel Laurin as president and chief operating officer, effective Sept. 9.

Laurin has held executive positions and worked with major companies in the insurance and financial services sectors for nearly 35 years. For the past 17 years, he has worked for Industrial Alliance as president and COO of iA Home and Auto Insurance and, more recently, as senior vice president of national operations for iA’s Car Dealer Services.

André Lussier, chairman of the board of directors at LDP, made the announcement Wednesday, calling Laurin a “visionary” and highlighting his vast experience, outstanding track record and leadership. Lussier is currently president of LDP and will remain chairman of the board of directors, a company spokesperson said.

“A strategic, creative and high-performance leader who is recognized for his deep concern for individuals, exceptional execution skills and deep understanding of industry issues, [Laurin] will undoubtedly contribute to the excellence of our services and enhance our customer experience,” Lussier said in a press release.

Laurin said he was delighted for the opportunity to lead LDP, Quebec’s largest brokerage. “Lussier Dale Parizeau plays an important role as an insurance and financial services firm in Quebec due to its presence throughout the province, the size of its clientele and the diversified range of its products and services,” he said.

Beyond experience in the insurance and financial services sectors, Laurin’s expertise extends to professional groups and associations. He holds a degree in actuarial science from Laval University and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. An active member of the industry, Laurin has served as a member and president of the Corporation des assureurs directs de dommages du Québec (CADD) and the Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA).

Laurin’s appointment comes just a couple of weeks after LDP’s latest acquisition of Karma Insurance, a life insurance brokerage that offers an online insurance comparison platform.

In July, LDP announced the acquisition of actuarial consulting firm Samson Consulting Group, which provides employee benefits support services to medium and large companies, trade unions and professional associations, among other offerings. In June, LDP merged with financial services firm Génius Financial Group, which specializes in group insurance and annuities, financial planning, savings and life insurance. LDP also acquired the assets of Petrela, Murray, LeBlanc Inc. – a brokerage with specialized expertise in construction bonding and site insurance – that month.

Based in Sorel-Tracy, Que., LDP offers property and casualty insurance, as well as solutions in group insurance, pension plans, human resources, occupational health and safety and pay equity for individuals, companies and professional groups and associations.

Lussier told Canadian Underwriter in an interview in July that LDP wants to become a “one-stop shop” for all of its clients’ needs.

“We believe that it is important for our clients to have the concentration of business in one spot,” he said at the time. “One part of our strategy is to equalize our sources of revenue between personal lines, enterprises and life insurance. We are open to acquisitions in damage and life insurance and possibly in new fields of products and services that would be beneficial to our 160,000 clients.”