Q&A
Grant Kimball President ANGUS-MILLER INSURANCE
Years in the industry 40 Fast fact This year, Kimball is celebrating his 40-year anniversary working at Angus Miller, which itself is celebrating its 100th year in business
Serving Atlantic Canada, rain or shine What differentiates Angus Miller in the insurance marketplace?
How has Hurricane Dorian impacted the Atlantic Canada insurance market?
Angus Miller is a managing general agent located in Saint John, New Brunswick. We’ve been serving Maritime brokers since 1919, and this is our 100th anniversary. As the largest independently owned and operated MGA in the Maritimes, our long-standing relationships with our brokers give us unique insight into their needs, both from a coverage standpoint and the unique service requirements of the Maritimes. Our underwriting team has a combined 125 years of experience helping local brokers and their clients.
Hurricane Dorian had a large impact on the Maritimes, not only because of the wind and rain, but it was also a huge test for insurers and claims third-party administrators to assist those insureds who suffered damage. The sheer magnitude of the event was such that all the Atlantic provinces were impacted. This stretched everyone’s resources to the limit. We are now over six weeks past the event, and the general perception is that our industry would be given a very good grade on how it handled this extraordinary event. Although there is still much to be done to close every claim, there have been no real negative reports of slow response or lack of coverage. It’s times like this that our industry has a chance to show what our value proposition is all about.
What risks are unique to Atlantic Canada? Given the demographics of Atlantic Canada, there’s a tendency to have commercial insureds who have multiple seasonal aspects to their business. This presents a challenge in understanding exactly what coverage the insured needs and also finding adequate terms for that coverage. Angus Miller’s local knowledge helps us understand these risks and assist our brokers in obtaining adequate coverage and terms.
What are some unique growth opportunities in the Atlantic Canada market? One area of opportunity developing here in the Maritimes is healthcare and associated services. Halifax is becoming an incubator for medical advancements, as well as healthcare-associated development. This is creating a need for coverages ranging from E&O and D&O to medical malpractice, along with very specialized liability coverages.
ENCON Group rebrands as Victor Canada
ENCON Group, the Canadian MGA unit of global managing general underwriter Victor Insurance Holdings, has undergone a rebrand and is now operating under the name Victor Canada. Formed more than 50 years ago, the newly named Victor Canada has more than 250 employees at locations in Ottawa, Mississauga, and Edmonton. The MGA works with independent brokers across the country, providing a range of products and programs in professional liability, property, casualty, and group and retiree benefits.
H.W. Kaufman acquires Node International
How can brokers help their clients create a disaster preparedness plan? Most of the losses we saw occurred from either water damage or wind damage with trees falling on buildings or vehicles. Some helpful tips to prevent a loss are to make sure all drains around your house are clear of leaves and other debris. Also, have branches trimmed from trees if they are close to power lines or overhang your house or vehicle, and try to proactively have your trees trimmed of weak or rotten branches. It’s also a good idea to have a couple days’ provision of water and food in case the power goes out. Flashlights should be checked every six months to make sure they have strong batteries.
H.W. Kaufman Group has acquired Node International, an MGA dedicated to digital, cyber and technologyrelated insurance and reinsurance solutions. Founded in 2017, Node boasts a digital application process that can turn around accurate cyber liability quotes in minutes. The MGA also has the capability to provide 24/7 monitoring and cyber attack risk mitigation. Node will join Kaufman Group’s global network of companies in London, and CEO Neil Gurnhill will continue to lead the company within the Kaufman network.
Aon’s Maven Underwriters pulls out of the market
Aon has announced that its legal professional indemnity-focused MGA, Maven Underwriters, is withdrawing from the market. The company reached out to customers in a letter, offering to pass their applications to another broker, The Professional Indemnity Company, to arrange cover. Aon also revealed that a number of Lloyd’s capacity providers that had previously supported Maven Underwriters have withdrawn their capacity as part of the Lloyd’s decile 10 profitability review.
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