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Northbridge Insurance launches new Manufacturers’ Choice™ solution

Northbridge Insurance announced today the launch of its new insurance solution that is tailored specifically towards the manufacturing industry. The  new Manufacturers’ Choice solution* is an important part of Northbridge Insurance’s strategy to broaden its product offering and provide focused underwriting and risk management expertise to customers and brokers in targeted business sectors.

“Creating greater success for our customers and broker partners means ensuring our products, service and expertise better meet their needs,” said Julie Pingree Senior Vice President, Corporate Underwriting. “With this product, we have utilized our more focused approach to get a better understanding of the industry’s unique risks as well as the emerging issues customers face on a regular basis. The result of which is a solution that allows our brokers partners to provide customized coverage in this growing sector.”

Manufacturers’ Choice is a comprehensive product and service offering which combines mid-market policy wording with a range of services to help address the unique insurance needs of manufacturers. The solution includes:

  • A comprehensive package policy with automatic extensions designed specifically for manufacturing risks
  • Additional optional coverages including manufacturers’ E&O, equipment breakdown and production machinery
  • Manufacturing sector expertise (Underwriting, Claims and Risk Services)

A key success factor in the product’s development was involving brokers in the process.

“Partnering with our brokers is how we like to do business, “said Fabian Richenberger, President of Northbridge Insurance. “So we worked closely with our broker partners to ensure we developed a product that is comprehensive, flexible and tailored specifically to their manufacturing customers’ needs.”

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Andrew Wood joins Northbridge as Chief Information Officer

Northbridge Financial Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Wood to the position of Chief Information Officer.

Andrew comes to Northbridge® with over 25 years of progressive IT leadership experience, most recently as Global IT Chief of Staff and Head of Enterprise Architecture at Aon Risk Solutions.

“Andrew possesses the knowledge, passion and skills that we were looking for in our CIO. He is an innovative and strategic leader who has successfully lead IT transformations in large, global organizations,” said Silvy Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Northbridge Financial Corporation. “As our new CIO, Andrew’s primary responsibility will be ensuring our IT investments enable our growth, accelerate our performance and support our vision of making our customers and brokers more successful.”

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Lana Wood joins Northbridge Insurance as Executive Vice President, Western Region

Northbridge Insurance is pleased to announce the appointment of Lana Wood to the position of Executive Vice President, Western Region.

Lana joins the company with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian insurance industry. After successful careers with RSA and Marsh, she most recently served as President and CEO of Western Financial Group.

“Lana has an impressive track record of building strong relationships and creating winning strategies,” said Fabian Richenberger, President of Northbridge Insurance. “She will play an integral role in building our brand presence, growing our business in the Western marketplace and achieving our vision of making our customers and brokers more successful.”

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Northbridge Insurance announces its new leadership for the Quebec region

I am very pleased to announce that Jean-Francois Béliveau will be joining the Northbridge Insurance team as Executive Vice-President, Quebec, commencing October 3, 2011. In line with our previous announcement, Northbridge Insurance comprises the existing subsidiaries of Lombard, Markel and Commonwealth – combining them into one, united brand, as of January 1st, 2012.

As many of you know, Jean-Francois is a well respected and experienced insurance executive who knows the Quebec market place very well. He joins us from AXA Insurance where he led Commercial Lines since 2005.

Jean-Francois joins our group at a very exciting time as we are bringing our three existing broker companies together into one united brand – Northbridge Insurance. Leveraging our combined strengths, expertise and resources will allow us to deliver more differentiated products and services – with the over-arching goal of helping you and your clients be more successful.

In his new role, Jean-François will be responsible for developing growth strategies for our business in Quebec and to create strong relationships with our key brokers partners to address the needs of our mutual customers in a pro-active and competent manner.

To further strengthen the leadership of our Quebec business, Marc Duguay has been promoted to Vice-President of Underwriting. Richard Lapierre, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year, will support Jean-Francois and Marc in the transition into their expanded roles and then retire by year-end. We look forward to celebrating Richard’s long and successful career with all of you towards the end of this year.

Jean-François and Marc will be reaching out to you in the coming weeks to discuss our plans for a successful future together with you.

Your support and commitment to Northbridge Insurance is much appreciated.

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Northbridge to create new connected organization – three subsidiaries to operate under one brand

Company moves to gain competitive advantage through leveraging combined expertise and strengths.

Northbridge Financial Corporation, one of Canada’s leading commercial insurance groups, announced today, that three of its’ subsidiaries, Lombard Insurance, Commonwealth Insurance and Markel Insurance will operate under one brand, Northbridge Insurance, to support its broker partners. Federated Insurance will continue to operate as the company’s captive agency distribution arm through its dedicated sales agents.  Zenith will also continue to operate its personal lines of business.

“This is an exciting time for us” said Silvy Wright, President and CEO of Northbridge. “By combining the strength of our talent, the diversity of our products and leveraging the scale of our operations as one company, we will be better positioned for long-term growth”

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Silvy Wright assumes office of President and CEO of Northbridge

Northbridge Executive Changes

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited ( TSX:FFH and FFH.U) announces that Mark Ram has decided to retire as the President and CEO of Fairfax’s wholly-owned  Northbridge Financial Corporation subsidiary, effective May 15, 2011. Mark has been with the Fairfax organization for over twenty years and has been instrumental in its Canadian operations as the President and CEO of Northbridge and, prior there to, as the President of Markel Insurance Company of Canada.

Mark will continue to be available for consultation as Vice Chairman of Northbridge.

Silvy Wright, who has been with the Fairfax group for sixteen years and is currently the President of Markel, is assuming the office of President and CEO of Northbridge, resulting in a seamless transition.

Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax, commented,

“I want  to thank Mark for his outstanding performance and loyalty with Northbridge, Markel and Fairfax over more than twenty years. As one of our longest serving Presidents in the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry, he has created tremendous value for us. All of us at Fairfax wish him well in his future endeavours.

“We look forward to the future of Northbridge with Silvy Wright at the helm. Silvy has demonstrated that she has the skills, experience  and energy to assume the leadership of Northbridge.”

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.

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