CAM CROSBIE Chief information officer and VP of information technology Equitable Life of Canada
As vice-president of information technology and chief information officer at Equitable Life of Canada, it’s Cam Crosbie’s raison d’être to drive innovation at the firm. Having served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces for six years, Crosbie decided to use his tech skills in the finance world. After stints at BMO and Scotiabank, he joined Equitable Life as assistant VP of business systems, and in 2011 was promoted to his current position. Equitable Life continues to lead the way in the insurance space when it comes to harnessing technology to make clients’ lives easier. Most recently, this meant a partnership with NexgenRx to provide plan members with a convenient option for submitting paramedical and vision care claims in real time. This built on Equitable Life’s online EZClaim service for plan members and its EZComplete life application, which saves time and increases accuracy for its advisors.
MARY FORREST President and CEO Munich Re North America (Life)
The first female executive to lead the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, Mary Forrest has built her reputation in the industry over 25 years with Munich Re. Today she heads the insurance giant’s life & health reinsurance operations in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, which accounts for more than 60% of the group’s total life reinsurance premium, as well as a considerable contribution to Munich Re’s Munich Health segment. The CLHIA’s selection of Forrest as the first female chair of its board of governors in its 100-plus-year history came after she had already distinguished herself as chair of the association’s standing committee on government relations. Her leadership abilities haven’t gone unnoticed by Munich Re, either; before ascending to her current position, she served as chair of the Munich American Reassurance Company board and was a director on both the Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada and the Temple Insurance Company boards.
STEFAN KRISTJANSON Incoming president and COO Great-West Life
It’s been a challenging year for Great-West Life. While its first-quarter earnings were a respectable $620 million, that still represented an 11% drop year-over-year – and the task at hand for Stefan Kristjanson is clear. Kristjanson, currently the EVP of strategy and transformation, will take the reins as Great-West Life’s president and COO on August 6. Kristjanson has built a reputation for his ability to mould Great-West Life to fit the needs of an evolving industry (including integration of the Irish Life business in Ireland), and the company is no doubt hoping he will produce similar results in his new role.
PETER BERCZI CEO Benecaid
Founded in 2000, Toronto-based Benecaid is a firm for the new millennium. Noticing a large gap in the market, the company sought to provide health benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises, a decision more than vindicated by its growth since then. Currently steering the ship is CEO Peter Berczi, who joined in 2014 after almost a decade with Rogers Communications. In addition to his role as SVP of enterprise IT with Rogers, Berczi also previously served as CEO at InsLogic and North Direct Response (now Sitel); as such, he brings a wealth of experience in the financial, IT and communications fields to Benecaid. Today, he seeks to drive the firm forward as it expands its presence among companies with one to 2,500 employees.
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