Pages 31 - Insurancewest Media Ltd.

insurer
showcase
2012
RSA Canada
R
Demographics behind
private client offering
tion. That presents an obvious opporSA Canada is moving more
tunity with customers who clearly have
aggressively into the specialdifferent insurance needs. The transfer
ized insurance market,
of wealth involving secondary homes,
offering personal lines cottages, accumulated wealth in terms of
coverage, including private
collections and other high-value items,
client insurance, to meet the needs of
certainly presents an opportunity for our
higher-end clients. The company is also
brokers to offer differentiated service.
targeting a mature-customer segment
That’s what’s really driving our strategy
that places a high value on personal
into this area.”
security.
He says high-value clients would tradiWith $2.5 billion nationally in annual
tionally have homes valued at a minipremium volume, the insurer has been
mum of $750,000, or $1
shifting its focus in Canada from being a generalistOne reason for the million in B.C. They’d
fine art collections,
only carrier in its personal
change of focus is to have
fine wine collections,
lines business to broader
participation in a niche compete with all the expensive jewelry items
higher-end autos.
market.
direct writers. The and“Some
of these are the
Steve Yendall, VP Western region, says RSA has
second reason is to toys or frills. Regardless,
inventory of assets
always had a personal
capture the needs of their
has grown to a specific
specialty division within
the organization that has an aging population. point where they need to
ensure that they have the
focused on non-tradiright suite of coverages in place. These
tional products such as travel, credit card
coverages obviously tend to be quite
inclusions and hole-in-one insurance
complex. Bringing together a packaged
to diversify earnings and to compleoffering really puts us in the right place
ment core products. The difference now,
with our brokers in providing a compelhe says, is RSA recognizes that with
ling product for the market.”
demographic shifts and the ever-evolving
Yendall says RSA’s private client insurneeds of its insurance base, there is an
ance has already been introduced in
opportunity to “stretch” into private cliAlberta and Ontario. It launches in B.C.
ent services with high net worth product
this month and will soon be in place
offerings.
across the rest of Canada, supported by a
“This approach builds on our adviceprint marketing campaign called Savour
based customer strategy which is aimed
the Moment.
at customers with more complex insur“The theme of the campaign is: it’s
able needs and who value the expertise
not just about the items you insure, it is
only a broker can offer. It’s a tool that’s
about the moments you spend savouring
going to increase our share in this marthem.”
ketplace.”
He says the product, which was
Yendall says RSA decided to change
developed over a period of at least 18
its focus for a couple of reasons. One
months, has required a dedicated team of
is to compete with all the direct writspecialized underwriters, claims adjusters
ers that have emerged in recent years to
and appraisers with tenured expertise. In
serve self-purchasing clients. The second
some instances extra staff has been hired
reason is to capture the needs of an aging
to deliver the service.
population.
“This is a very specialized product we
“We’re going to experience the largest
can’t have diluted through our standard
single transfer of wealth in our history,
operating model. These are our brokers’
going down to the baby boomer generawww.insurancewest.ca
premier clients and they demand the
premier service one would expect with
this type of offering.”
Yendall says RSA also has a “new appetite” for auto insurance in Alberta.
“We’ve done a whole-scale re-launch
of the rating platform in Alberta. This
basically works out to a – on average – five-point broad discount across
the province. But we’re also looking at
targeted discounts of up to 30 points for
our ideal customers.”
Yendall says private client insurance
was developed through the suggestions
and input of brokers, consumers and
marketplace representatives. He says
brokers are particularly pleased with the
new product.
“Brokers have been hugely supportive
and positive. Our focus groups showed a
gap for this product in our marketplace,
and we’ve structured a product to address that gap and extend up through the
high-value chain.” IW
ABOUT STEVE YENDALL…
H
e has a background in
management consulting,
primarily in the U.S. He’s
originally from Ottawa. He and
wife Linda have a
son, Jack, 7, and a
daughter, Sarah,
5. He’s been with
RSA Canada since
2006. The family
relocated to B.C.
from Ontario last year and love
calling B.C. their new home.
“RSA is recognized and
trusted,” he says. “It’s a strong
brand. It’s a financially stable,
well-respected international
player, let alone Canadian player.
People respect the fact it can
deliver continuous underwriting results. Most importantly, its
people, service and products are
respected.” IW
Insurancewest January 2012 31
insurer
showcase
2012
Portage Mutual Insurance Company
The man who would be Kirk
G
reg Kirk has been with
Portage Mutual for 35
years. But it seems to
him like only yesterday
when he was hired by the
company, which has its head office in
Portage la Prairie, Man. and traces its
roots back to 1884.
The man who likes to be
known as Captain Kirk – “It
means an awful lot to me to
be addressed that way” – is the
insurer’s corporate marketing manager. He grew up on
a mixed grain and cattle farm
near Hamiota, in southwest
Manitoba, graduating high
school in 1974.
His first job was with the
construction division of the
former Manitoba Telephone
System. A year later it was on
to Manitoba Pool Elevators in
Hamiota, where he was an assistant to the local grain buyer.
“One day the local insurance broker came over and
said to me, ‘You know, Portage
Mutual is looking for underwriters,’” recalls Kirk, 57. “I
looked at him and said, ‘Well,
I couldn’t sell insurance,’ and
we left it at that. But later that
day an acquaintance explained
to me what insurance was
all about. She suggested I
should go for it. So I sent in a
resumé, and Tom McCartney,
who would later become a
president at Portage, agreed to meet me. I
knew from that meeting I’d be hired.”
So off he went to Portage la Prairie to
start work as an underwriter. Right from
the start, Kirk says, he knew insurance
was for him and that Portage Mutual was
the place to be.
“I always felt I was a key member of
the company, and that Portage Mutual
was like working for a family. We all
really care about each other and we’re
always there to help each other.”
He spent about a year in Portage la
Prairie before being transferred to the
company’s Edmonton branch, where he
32 January 2012 Insurancewest
soon became a marketing rep. He really
enjoyed marketing; it became his niche.
“I fit right in. I really enjoy people and
am not afraid to talk to them, and that
helps. Sometimes it’s not how much you
know, but how comfortable you make
people feel about supporting Portage
Mutual.”
In 1980 he moved to Regina. He remained there for five years.
“I was given a list of brokers and told,
‘Go find some business.’ We didn’t have
anybody travelling Saskatchewan, and
volumes had slipped badly.”
It was in Saskatchewan that he picked
up the moniker Captain Kirk, after the
character Captain James Kirk of the TV
series Star Trek. It was bestowed upon
him by a marketing rep for Saskatchewan
Mutual.
“Most people in the industry know
me as Captain Kirk. Often, when I go to
insurance functions, someone will ask
my name. My reply is, ‘I’m Captain Kirk
from the starship Portage Mutual.’ I’m
proud of it. I think when someone calls
you by your nickname, you have their
full respect.”
Over the years Kirk has
made many friends in
the industry, people like
Dale Rempel
of Rempel
Insurance in
Rempel
Morris, Man.,
the current president of the
Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.
“Greg is very well regarded
by industry people,” Rempel
says. “He really has a passion
for the industry and for trying to initiate sensible change.
As for his personality, he’ll
never take a back seat. You
always see him up front. He’s
a joy to be with.”
Those sentiments are
shared by Dave
Schioler, CEO
of the Insurance Brokers
Association of
Manitoba.
“Greg is wellSchioler
liked,” Schioler
says. “He’s a very good face
for the company, and I’m sure
he’s delivered what Portage
Mutual has asked him to
deliver over the years. He’s
kind and humble about his
accomplishments.”
After completing his Saskatchewan
assignment in 1985, Kirk returned to
Manitoba, working in Brandon and Winnipeg. Then it was back to head office in
Portage la Prairie, where, in 2000, he was
promoted to his current position.
Kirk is single. In his spare time he
enjoys curling, golfing and travelling He
also acts in amateur musicals.
Retirement is looming. He’s not sure
how he’ll adjust. Maybe more travelling.
But one thing is sure: retirement or not,
he’ll always be known as Captain Kirk,
and that suits him just fine. IW
www.insurancewest.ca
Moveover fire.
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There’s
There’s aa
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Most people think of insurance as protection against fire and theft. Times are changing.
Our experience has found that one of the biggest losses we help customers with now
is water damage.
Did you know water damage :
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•
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At Intact Insurance, we’re developing a number of ways to tackle this issue. From prevention
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proactive in helping to face water issues head on.
To learn more about how Intact Insurance can help you and your customers, talk to your
Intact representative or visit us on the Intact broker portal today.
HOME
CAR
NEESSSS
B U SSIIN
The
a registered
trademark
of the
Brokers
Association
of Canada
(IBAC). All
other trade-marks
are property
of property
Intact Financial
Corporation
under license.
The BIP
BIPlogo
logoisis
a registered
trademark
of Insurance
the Insurance
Brokers
Association
of Canada
(IBAC).
All other trade-marks
are
of Intact
Financialused
Corporation
used under license.
© 2009,
Company.
©
2009,Intact
IntactInsurance
Insurance
Company.
insurer
showcase
2012
Wawanesa Insurance
Oil and gas product
aimed at suppliers
W
©iStockphoto.com/shotbydave
tools, machinery and equipment and
awanesa Insurance
specialized coverage for laptops, GPS
is launching a new
systems and satellite radios, things that a
commercial prodtypical oilfield contractor may possess.
uct Feb. 1 aimed at
Achtnig says Oilfield Select can be cusWestern Canada’s oil
tomized to apply to specific situations.
and gas industry – Oilfield Select. Based
“The broker can expand the property
on a full year of research, it’s targeting
coverage suite by whatever is desirable,
small- to medium-sized contractors and
including building, additional contents
consultants servicing the industry.
and cargo coverage.” The minimum
The company’s senior specialist in the
premium for the new
commercial division,
offering is $1,000,
Rob Achtnig, says
but the price can
this is the first time
increase, depending
Wawanesa is really
on the exposure.
getting into the oil
Achtnig says broand gas sector.
kers are pleased Wa“We’re targeting
wanesa has entered
companies with sales
the market.
under $1 million,” he
“There are 500,000
says. “It essentially
people in this indusapplies to contractry, and brokers had
tors involved in the
been looking for anup-stream sector.
other market to place
That would be operathese risks with. We
tions from the initial
think we fit a niche
exploratory end, the
The insurer’s Oilfield Select
in that marketplace.”
initial search for oil
product is aimed at companies
To support the
and gas, all the way
with sales under $1 million.
product, Wawanesa
up to the closing
is also offering insurance for long-haul
and abandonment of the well. That
transport drivers. Shanda Warman, sencan include land men and surveyors,
ior specialist on the automobile side, says
contractors who service the actual well,
the coverage is for drivers
all the way through to remediation and
in Alberta and the Yukon
reclamation contractors.”
who exceed a distance of
The base product of the Oilfield Select
80 kms from their home
offering is liability. Achtnig says the
terminal.
entire package is very competitive, and
“We felt it was a great
Wawanesa is looking for good results in
opportunity to expand
its first foray into the business.
Warman
into that market,” she says.
“It offers a lot of at“For example, in 2004 in Alberta there
tractive coverages. There’s
were 98,500 individuals in the translimited pollution cover
port and warehouse industry. Currently
and crane liability. We
we only have 656 insured out of our
offer towing endorsement
Edmonton office, so there’s ample opand coverage for forest
portunity for us to grow. Over a period
and Prairie firefighting exAchtnig
of time we should be able to get about 10
penses. We have predeterper cent of the total market.”
mined limits, but brokers have an option
of buying up those limits.”
Oilfield Select targets the Yukon, The enhancement package available
B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Maniwith the insurance includes coverage of
toba. IW
34 January 2012 Insurancewest
www.insurancewest.ca
insurer
showcase
2012
Sovereign General Insurance Company
Pro liability cover expands
T
he Sovereign General has
expanded its professional
liability division by turning
it into a specialty portfolio
with three new offerings.
David Alexander, the company’s
national manager, professional liability,
says it was decided some time ago to be
more flexible with its liability insurance
products and more accessible to brokers.
An expert in professional
liability insurance, Alexander joined the Sovereign
last May after working
at a number of national
companies.
“We’ve been directed
Alexander
to guide a well-respected
Canadian insurer in a move away from
a commodity-based insurance company
toward a more specialty player. We want
to look at more specialty risks. That is
one of the drivers that led me to Sovereign General, to participate and help in
that process.”
Alexander says the future looks very
promising for the company, which he
says is now well positioned due to an
A-minus rating from A.M. Best, the
international rating agency. As a result, it
will be “bulking up” on its products and
adding to its underwriting knowledge.
Continuing education will be an ongoing
process.
He says products the Sovereign had
available before were effective, but standard. It was time for something new.
“We’ve now created three new
wordings: an architects’ and engineers’
wording; an educators’ liability wording, which is hybrid coverage for private
schools and adult vocational schools and
such; and a media liability wording for
things like magazines and newspapers.”
Full details of the new offerings are
available on the Sovereign website at
www.sovereigngeneral.com.
The company is currently in the process of taking submissions and underwriting risks in the three new professional
liability areas. Marketing to spread the
word about the changes is being done in
person, with a lot of corporate people
visiting brokers across the country.
www.insurancewest.ca
“For the professional liability unit,
we’ve got some flash drives, one gigabyte memory sticks, containing all the
information, including copies of our
wordings. It’s a handy informational tool,
especially for our key brokers. We’re get-
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ting good feedback. A lot of our brokers
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Insurancewest January 2012 35
insurer
showcase
2012
Aviva Canada
Emphasis on service sees
submissions jump in West
36 January 2012 Insurancewest
the pricing of commercial property insurance. Mark Rouleau, VP underwriting
for Western Canada, says it’s an industrywide problem that has to be fixed.
“At Aviva, for every dollar we take in,
we pay out $1.04. To be profitable we
should be paying out no more than 95
cents on the dollar. We’re going to have
to stop the losses and look for a higher
rate. It’s not just Aviva, it’s the entire
industry. The results are just not impressive. Industry performance is
poor and we need to charge
more for our commercial
property product.”
Rouleau says competition
has depressed rates to the
extent that there’s no profit
anymore. And rates continue
to drop. In B.C. the problem
is compounded by earthquake
reinsurance costs.
“There’s a huge demand in
B.C. for earthquake insurance,
since it’s one of the vulnerable areas in North America.
But the premiums charged are
completely inadequate.”
Aviva managers visit brokers as often as possible
Rouleau says Aviva, if need
to discuss issues and promote products and services.
be, is prepared to increase
commercial property rates on its own
ers looking after our claimants. We will
and is looking to brokers to partner with
always need third-party adjusters, but
it to help resolve the issue.
our thinking is to have more of our own
“Brokers have a role in
people handling files. So we’ve hired new
educating their clients, and
staff – we now have half a dozen new
we’re looking to them to
road adjusters – and we’re providing
help us out. Nobody wants
them with precise training to get the job
to hear of rate increases
done. On the underwriting side, we want
without knowing the
our service levels to reach new heights.
background. People don’t
We’ve hired about 40 new commercial
Rouleau
want surprises. But, if it’s
underwriters in the last 12 months. They
explained in the context of other coverhelp the existing staff deliver quicker
ages where insurance rates have gone
turnaround times, resulting in better
down, they might be more willing to
service to the broker and the client.”
accept an increase.”
Reid says broker satisfaction surveys
All in all, it’s been a great year for Aviva
conducted by Aviva show they’re quite
in the Western region. Reid and his team
pleased with the new emphasis the comare committed to listening to brokers and
pany is placing on products and services.
providing great service so that the strong
Brokers are helping promote the initiapace of growth continues through 2012
tives to customers.
and beyond. IW
One area that still concerns Aviva is
annual broker councils in those cities
and recently completed our 2011 broker
road show. We are truly committed to
our broker channel. Broker input is a
significant part of what makes Aviva a
great underwriting company.”
Aviva is also placing more attention
on service. The service infrastructure in
the West is being strengthened with new
people coming on board.
“We want to have more staff adjust-
©iStockphoto.com/Squaredpixels
A
viva Canada has been careful to
cultivate a strong bond with
its brokers and has dedicated
itself to providing customers with superior service.
It’s what makes it one of the most prominent insurers in the country.
Tom Reid, the company’s SVP for
broker distribution in Western Canada,
says the close attention to brokers and
customer service is really paying off in
the West, where business is up.
“Submissions from brokers have
jumped considerably, allowing the region
to grow about six per cent from August
through to the end of November 2011,”
he says. “Our brokers are seeing we have
increased opportunities available and
that our ability to quote and bind business has improved tremendously.”
Reid says Aviva is committed to the
broker channel – it has a broker force of
1,700 across the country, with about 800
in the West – and is continually making
improvements to products
and services to help them
stay on top of business.
“Aviva has a strong, deep
appetite for commercial
business, and our brokers
know that. To give them
Reid
more opportunities, we’re
offering enhanced products such as an
oil and gas product we’re introducing,
primarily for Saskatchewan and Alberta.
This is a clear opportunity for our brokers to write new business. In the months
ahead there will be enhancements to
other products aimed at stimulating
business.”
Reid and his management colleagues
in the West stay close to the broker force
by making as many personal visits as
they can to discuss issues and promote
products and services.
“In the first half of the year we spent
about 10 weeks in a row on the road and
held over 30 meetings across the Western
region, talking with at least 15 brokers
in each of the four major cities where
we have an office. We also hold semi-
www.insurancewest.ca
XL Group
Insurance
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1
W
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insurer
showcase
2012
XL Insurance
Managing recall risks
product tracking systems and engage in
increased record-keeping activities.
A few carriers have extended their
product-recall coverage to specifically address mandatory government regulator
recall risks. XL Insurance now provides
the only coverage that specifically and
expressly addresses the risks companies
By John Turner
now face from the FSMA as well as nonU.S. government-driven recalls.
iller Cantaloupe. Fatal
The XL government recall endorseFenugreek. Tainted Turkey. ment is alone in addressing both mandaThey may sound like vil- tory recall risk and voluntary recalls
lains in a 1950s-era horror where the Canadian Food Inspection
flick, but cantaloupe,
Agency, FDA or the U.S. Department
fenugreek seeds and ground turkey
of Agriculture have made a Class
represent some of the foods subject to
I or II recall declaration. XL sees
the world’s largest and costliest food
this difference as critical, since the
contamination incidents in 2011.
vast majority of recalls will remain
Most companies in the food indus“voluntary” rather than governmenttry already have solid systems in place
regulator mandated. The XL cover
and make these activities part of their
also addresses the supply chain risk
day-to-day risk management efforts.
of mass-ingredient adulteration. This
For those that don’t, updates to food
means that a company will be asked to
safety regulations should prompt
recall because they received and used
more businesses involved in the
an adulterated ingredient from one of
growth, production or preparation of
their suppliers even though tests may
food to reinforce their quality and risk
management strategies to avoid any
For businesses involved in the growth, production show that the batch received and used
by that company was never actually
food safety issues.
or preparation of food, having appropriate recall
contaminated.
and crisis plans in place is critical.
Recall costs, both financial and
Today’s available coverage also
reputational, can be enormous if not
includes free pre-loss consulting, crisis
contained and handled correctly. It’s
offer upfront guidance on both risk and
management services and coverage for
vital that a food company be equipped to
crisis management.
related expenses with no applicable
swiftly provide the right data and credible
Because of today’s global marketplace,
self-insured retention. Insurers are not
support to isolate and segregate contamithe U.S.’s Food Safety Modernization Act
only providing insurance coverage but
nation or show there is no danger to pub(FSMA) should be of interest to Canadiloss prevention and mitigation assistance
lic health and limit a recall’s scope. Having
an businesses, especially those exporting
from recall, crisis, legal and PR specialists
an appropriate recall plan plus a specific
food and other products to the U.S. The
to expert microbiologists and laboracrisis plan in place is therefore critical.
law marks the first major reform of food
tory services to help manage and limit
oversight at the Food and Drug AdminFor instance, companies need to be
financial losses, business interruption
istration (FDA) since 1938. It allows the
equipped with solid, documented data to
and reputational damage.
FDA to issue mandatory recalls of prodestablish clear-cut off-dates in production,
Going forward, product contaminaucts and order the detention of products
use of adulterated raw material, batches
tion insurance and related risk manageas well as refuse admission of imported
and sanitizations. While companies can
ment services, including quality control
food. Given the wide-ranging increase
be very confident in their own qualityand advance crisis management planin monitoring embedded in it, there is
assurance efforts, they must be equally
ning, will be more standard in the food
likely to be an increased demand for food
confident in their suppliers’ efforts as well.
industry’s risk management plans to help
safety-related testing, including for prodPro-active supplier approval and riskkeep their operations, their reputations
ucts exported to the U.S. from Canada.
based supplier risk management systems
and the public healthy. IW
Likewise, Canadian exporters will have
and protocols will help manage risks comto register, provide the FDA ability to acing from the upstream supply chain.
F F F
cess company records, undertake hazard
While broad and specialist product
John Turner is North America product recall
analysis, implement preventive controls
contamination insurance is available to
manager at the XL Group plc. More information
and performance standards, put in place
address the financial costs involved in the
about XL is available at www.xlgroup.com.
©iStockphoto.com/pidjoe
K
recall of food products, it is important to
look at how specialist insurers respond to
addressing the expense and implementation of crisis management and to providing pre-loss consulting services. By way
of example, effective crisis management
must now be able to urgently address the
wildfire spread of information, accurate
or otherwise, generated by social media.
Product contamination insurers see value
in not only providing their clients with
coverage to pay for a range of retained
specialist crisis consultants, but often
www.insurancewest.ca
Insurancewest January 2012 39
insurer
showcase
2012
Optimum West Insurance Company
I
Broker relations
key to success
Adding icing to the cake in 2011 was
n October 2011 the Insurance
BCBusiness magazine naming Optimum
Brokers Association of B.C. pubWest as one of the top five companies to
lished the results of its biennial
work for in the financial sector. Another
p&c Insurer Performance Survey,
highlight was B.C.’s insurance industry
in which Optimum West earned
Salute committee naming the insurer’s
the top spot.
Green as the recipient of its Rising Star
“These results reflect the goal of our
award, an annual and coveted accolade
corporate mission, which
recognizing a young leader whose profesis to offer consistently high
sional contributions and dedication to
standards of service to our
excellence have already made him a role
brokers and their custommodel in the insurance industry.
ers,” said Martin Carrier,
“It’s been quite a year,” Green said. “We
president and COO of
truly owe this success to the support of
Optimum West Insurance
Carrier
our brokers and employees.”
Company, Optimum
The company also
Insurance Company and
Optimum Farm Insur- The corporate mission had a successful year in
Alberta.
ance. “The results are also
“Securing a strong,
an accurate reflection of is to offer consistently
viable broker force in
the skills, knowledge and
high standards of
province has been
involvement of each and
service to brokers and the
a priority for Optievery one of our emmum West for the last
ployees.”
their customers
few years,” said Derri
Over the past few years
Thomas, Alberta region VP. “We’ve apthe Vancouver-based insurer has increaspointed 18 brokers in two years. The key
ingly and successfully built excellent
to our success is matching brokers’ needs
relationships with its broker network.
with what Optimum West
IBABC’s 2007 and 2009 surveys had
can provide. We’re doing a
Optimum West placing third and fourth
much better job working
respectively.
with independent brokers
“Our broker-centric approach really
to ensure we meet their
makes a difference in developing partneeds.
nerships with our brokers,” said Jeremy
“Service remains a priGreen, the insurer’s regional VP for B.C.
Thomas
ority for our brokers. We
“We recognize that each
have worked hard to ensure our service
broker provides unique
remains at a high level. We will also convalue to their customer
tinue to work with them to enhance our
base. It’s our job to respect
product lines. Last year we launched our
this fact and to do what
new residential product, a stand-alone
we can to support brokers
watercraft offering, and we continued
through their various
Green
promoting our OptiPak retail commerstrategies.”
cial package.”
IBABC’s most recent survey results
Added Thomas: “In 2012 we will strive
suggest that philosophy has resonated
to continue meeting the needs of our
with brokers, who gave Optimum West
brokers. Excellent service will remain
top marks in commercial lines, claims
paramount. Our brokers can also expect
handling and general management. In
new auto rates that will allow us to be
the areas of building relationships and
more competitive. Look for our new
communication with brokers, the insurer
hobby farm product and the launch of a
was ranked first, as much as 12 points
special risk program in commercial lines.
ahead of its closest competitor.
40 January 2012 Insurancewest
“Optimum West remains committed
to the independent broker distribution
network. We rely upon and appreciate
the support we receive from our brokers.
It’s the key to our success.” IW
THE OPTIMUM GROUP
O
ptimum West Insurance
Company, one of three
p&c insurance subsidiaries of Optimum General, is part
of the larger Optimum Group, a
Canadian-owned, private international financial group founded
in 1969.
The Group is active in many
different areas besides p&c
insurance in Canada. It has life
reinsurance operations in the
U.S and Canada, life insurance in
France and actuarial consulting
interests in Canada. The Group
also includes an asset management division with more than
$3.7 billion worth of assets under
management in Canada.
The Optimum Group’s real
estate division owns and manages properties in North America,
France and the Caribbean. Special
rental rates on its Caribbean villas
are available for Optimum West
brokers.
“The Optimum Group is guided
by its mission and
is sustained by a
vision that is clear
and in line with the
corporate values
which have been
steering its objecLagarde
tives of growth
for more than 40 years,” says
J.-Sebastien Lagarde, VP corporate strategy and business
development. “Rigorousness and
risk management – two of our
fundamental principles – have
been at the core of our operations
and our business culture from the
beginning.
“In the pursuit of the operations and development of all the
member companies, financial
security remains one of the top
priorities in order to contribute
to the success of our clients and
partners, and to continue our
organization’s development.” IW
www.insurancewest.ca