Media Release: Surety Association of Canada Announces 2022-2023 Board of Directors

February 8, 2023 – Mississauga, ON –  The Surety Association of Canada (SAC) held its 31st Annual General Meeting on September 21, 2022, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel where the slate of officers was presented and approved by the SAC membership. On December 6, 2022, the SAC Board of Directors met to elect the officials for the upcoming fiscal year, which are as follows (listed in alphabetical order by last name):

  • Scott Beitel, Chief Operating Officer, PLATFORM (Past Chair)
  • Iqbal Bhinder, Senior Vice President - Contract Surety, RAISE Underwriting
  • Rob Burns, Senior Vice President, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada
  • Robert Cristiano, Vice President, Everest Re Group Ltd.
  • Chris Fiore, Head of Surety, Canada, The Hartford
  • Nicolas Gagnon, Partner, Lavery, de Billy
  • Richard A. Grant, Senior Vice President - Surety, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
  • Steven Hastings, Vice President - Surety, Liberty Mutual Canada
  • Steve Hogan, Senior Vice President - Ontario Surety Manager, Aon Canada
  • Tom Krech, AVP - Surety, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada (Board Vice Chair)
  • Raymond Llamas, AVP - Underwriting Director, CNA Surety
  • Brent McAllister, Director - National Accounts, Zurich Insurance Company
  • Darryll McDonald, Vice President - Surety, Echelon Insurance
  • Paul McIntyre, Vice President - Surety, Euler Hermes North America Insurance Company
  • Terry Michalakos, Vice President - Surety, Aviva Insurance Company of Canada
  • Brandon Notaro, Vice President, Surety Underwriting, Partner Re
  • Sarina Puccio, Team Leader for Credit – Surety & Political Risk, Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada, Ltd.
  • Rick Shaban, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP
  • Mark Skanes, Vice President, Western Surety Company (Board Chair)
  • David Smith, National Vice President - Surety Leader, Intact Insurance
  • Sheila Thompson, President, Rosenberg & Parker of Canada, Inc.

(Photo caption: Top left to right, as per list.)

Steven D. Ness, President of the Surety Association of Canada, stated: “In 2022, we celebrated our 30th year anniversary and we are in the final stages of the development of our association’s next five-year strategic plan.” He further noted, “we are grateful for the continued support and dedication of SAC’s Board of Directors and welcome our newest Director, Sheila Thompson of Rosenberg & Parker of Canada, Inc., who brings to the role over 30 years of experience including her involvement in various industry committees, to include The Risk and Insurance Management Society of Canada (RIMS Canada), the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) and the Canadian Construction Documents Committee’s Surety Subcommittee.”

For PDF version of Media Release, CLICK HERE.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Sharon Clark-Koufis
Director of Operations, Membership & Stakeholder Services
Surety Association of Canada
P: (905) 677-1353 ext. 202
E: sclark [at] suretycanada.com  

About the Surety Association of Canada:

The Surety Association of Canada (SAC) is the national trade advocacy association that represents the interests of the surety industry across Canada. Its members consist of primary surety firms, surety reinsurers, surety/insurance brokers, and other organizations that provide related and complementary services to the surety industry.

While the majority of the surety industry’s premium revenue is derived from construction contract bonds, SAC also represents the interests of those organizations that focus on non-contract or commercial surety. SAC does not represent or advocate on behalf of the fidelity bond industry.

Since its formation in 1992, SAC has become a trusted resource for construction purchasers, design professionals, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders in construction and business communities. SAC has developed its own bond forms in response to industry need and in consultation with the construction industry.

SAC and its members regularly meet with owners, contractors, other associations and related organizations to educate them about surety bonds and the suretyship process. SAC also monitors legislation across the country that will impact its members and works diligently to advance the surety cause with lawmakers and government officials.