COVER STORY
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE HEATHER MCLACHLIN President COWAN INSURANCE GROUP Why hot: President of one of IBC’s
top 10 brokerages for 2015, Heather McLachlin oversees Cowan Insurance Group’s 10 offices and 4,320 employees. McLachlin’s philosophy for success is simple: “We listen to our clients’ needs and provide thought leadership – asking the questions that clients themselves do not know they need to ask, and then suggesting innovative products and services clients can understand and that meet personal and business needs,” she says. McLachlin’s strategy and managerial style are paying off – Cowan has been named one of Canada’s best-managed companies three years in a row.
CAROL GRAHAM Executive vice president and COO SUTTON SPECIAL RISK Why hot: As executive vice president and chief operating officer of Sutton Special Risk, Carol Graham is tasked with securing new sources of distribution and enhancing the marketing capabilities of all the company’s product lines. She began her career with Sutton in the mid-’80s, then held senior management positions in insurance and reinsurance companies – most recently as vice president of affinity markets for ACE INA Life Insurance – before rejoining Sutton. Graham has served on both the Alternate Distribution Committee and the Creditors’ Group Insurance Committee of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.
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DONNA INCE Senior vp personal insurance RSA CANADA Why hot: Donna Ince has been with RSA Canada for more than 20 years, moving through various progressively senior roles. Currently, she’s playing a critical role in managing RSA Canada’s transformation. The reshaping is centered on building an agile, innovative business and culture. Ince has become influential in her field by focusing on listening carefully to the needs of her customers and her team, and surrounding herself with experts to deliver exceptional propositions. Ince is also dedicated to mentoring and supporting the development of other women at RSA.
LYNN KELLY WENDY WILDEMAN Senior account executive ROGERS INSURANCE Why hot: With 2014 revenue of $2.8
million, Wendy Wildeman was one of IBC’s top five Elite Brokers this year. Wildeman’s top-selling products are programs designed specifically for condominiums and strata property management, and she clearly knows how to sell those products’ advantages to her clients. “One needs to get to know and understand the needs of the client,” Wildeman says. “Then combine technical skills to design and market an insurance program at competitive pricing to best fit the client – now and in the future.”
President CAIW Why hot: Lynn Kelly serves as
president of the Canadian Association of Insurance Women (CAIW). In that capacity, she leads the CAIW as it focuses on education, networking and professional development for women in the insurance industry. Kelly began her insurance career in 1980 as an independent adjuster. With her current employer, Crawford & Company, Kelly focuses on liability and malpractice claim investigation. In addition to her service with CAIW, Kelly has been a member of the Insurance Professionals of Calgary since 1997.