Canada’s Top Insurance Leaders | Hot List

While staying ahead of the soft market, these leading insurance professionals have also had to contend with:

• digital transformation: AI continues to underpin and accelerate change, as predictive analytics and machine learning become more prevalent. This has impacted data underwriting, managing claims, and how customers engage.
   

• climate risk and ESG: rethinking risk models and sustainability strategies as climate-related events continue to rise, along with more focus on ESG mandates.
   

• regulatory evolution: the need to invest in resources and revised operational frameworks to ensure they continue to confidently serve and deliver trusted security/capacity.
   

• customer expectations: demand for a personalized, transparent, omnichannel experience is hugely important. A shift from product-centric to service-centric.

“The leaders emerging today are not narrowly specialized but operate across connected disciplines: underwriting, product design, data science, customer experience, and digital distribution,” says Marco Andolfatto, chief underwriting officer at Apollo Insurance. “They’re able to translate between these domains, using data and automation to make decisions faster and more accurately while maintaining a strategic focus on client needs and regulatory context.”

SPG Canada’s chief sales and marketing officer, Denise Russell, adds, “Leaders today must be proactive and look to embrace and foster innovation and seek to build resilient teams.”

And she continues, “From what I’ve seen, and who I’ve had the pleasure of working with, I would be inclined to suggest that a leading insurance professional is someone who can bridge strategic vision with operational excellence while remaining customer-centric.”

Appointed in March 2025, Jonathan Weekes has made a significant impact by embracing the role with a willingness to learn and work cross-functionally to drive results.

Standout achievements over the last 12 months:

• launching Cyberboxx Assist, a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity tools and services designed to help individuals and businesses predict, prevent, and respond to cyber threats through risk assessments, compliance tools, and 24/7 advice. Support from real cybersecurity experts allows clients to assess their cyber maturity and undergo cybersecurity training
   

• overseeing the release of Tech E&O, a product that addresses errors and omissions concerns for organizations. Tailored for next-gen start-ups and mature tech companies, covering risks such as AI errors, data poisoning, and cryptocurrency theft
   

• growing submissions and revenue by almost 50 percent in Q1 and hit YoY targets
   

• serving as an active board member for the youth-supporting non-profit organization, Trust 15
   

• mentoring over 15 people at insurance organizations such as Zurich, HUB, and Marsh

Testimonial: “Viewed as a significant contributor to cyber insurance after transitioning to cyber about 10 years ago. He is a firm believer in the development of talent in the industry and actively mentors young people while leading with a collaborative approach.”
 

“Growth in a soft market is our priority, but we want to continue to push more than anything the all-in-one cyber solutions messaging that we’ve been dedicated to for several years now”
Jonathan WeekesBOXX Insurance

Operating in the niche of real estate and construction, Karim Zein is regarded as a driving force who thinks long-term.

Standout achievements over the last 12 months:

• exceeding the new business production budget for the third successive year, earning his place amongst Sharp Winners (HUB’s top producers in Canada and the US)
   

• enjoying excellent business retention during this period
   

• dedicating last year to getting ahead of the competition by approaching markets well in advance to better understand carrier appetites in preparation for renewals
   

• delivering optimal conditions for each and every renewing account consistently

Testimonial: “Karim is essentially a founding producer of our new office in Ottawa. From the first day, Karim began to tirelessly produce much-needed new revenue, with little backup or support. He has gained the respect of his colleagues as well as the underwriters with whom we work. He is always there for teammates, committing time to mentoring and coaching, which he does quite successfully. He is now part of our operational culture. Most importantly, through the time he offers to less experienced colleagues, he is giving back to our industry.”
 

“It’s harder to get a client than to lose a client”
Karim ZeinHUB International

Assuming her role in August 2024 at the claims management and adjusting firm, Gina Colangelo played a pivotal role in ensuring the team kept pace with increasing claims volumes while working on restructuring operational efficiency.

Standout achievements over the last 12 months:

• recruiting and training a team that delivers on the needs of clients
   

• honouring the customer service principles that her name has become synonymous with
   

• ensuring executive oversight by understanding the day-to-day, as she still handles a selection of claims to stay grounded and in touch with the team’s work

Testimonial: “Gina has been a force of good in the claims industry for over 30 years, embodying the principles of ethical claim handling and care for customers and team members. There aren’t many people in the claims industry who can balance the elements of leadership and customer service as well as Gina. Colleagues have often said how they love to work with her because of her ability to find positive solutions and willingness to help.”
 

“If a claim is reported today, we will do it today”
Gina ColangeloRPMx

Focusing on improving broker relations was Weekes’ approach, an extension of the work he had done in the industry’s previous hard market.

“Brokers tend to remember how you treated them in the most challenging times, and I think something that BOXX did really well, even in the hard market, was to try to find solutions for brokers,” he says. “That commitment and support to our brokers is now paying dividends.”

Adapting and offering solutions for the softening market was done with close consultation with brokers and cybersecurity leaders.

“We ask brokers where their frustrations are with existing products in the market, where they’re seeing gaps in coverage, and where maybe policies are not clear in certain ways. We consider that feedback when we look to revamp our products,” explains Weekes. “We’ve made sure we’ve integrated ourselves within both our client base and the information security community so that we have intelligence from both sides that helps us form the best products possible.”

While Zein managed the transition to a soft market by staying alert to new avenues of business in his niche of real estate and construction.

He says, “My success has come from staying ahead of the curve – talking to underwriters and anticipating potential market conditions. From a new business and onboarding perspective, I always try to understand appetites for insurance companies, so when you do get opportunities for new business or potentially onboarding clients, you know exactly where to go and who does that risk really well. It leads to faster, quicker turnaround times and a higher percentage of wins.”

Ensuring clients are well-informed on market swings and what they mean for pricing is crucial. Zein credits his ability to navigate the formerly hard market to communicating effectively.

He says, “If you’re giving a client an increase, you have to explain why. The odd time, you’ll have clients that maybe don’t believe you, and they’ll want a second opinion. When they do get it, then they understand you’re telling them the truth and doing a great job.”

Zein also places importance on the details of contracts to ensure clients are fully covered throughout their construction phases, verifying that they are never caught off guard. This includes check-ins such as revisiting the value of buildings and construction budgets or ensuring a client has locked in prices with HVAC or mechanical contractors.

With the market expected to stay soft well into 2026, Zein has ensured his team is well-equipped to service the inevitable influx of new business. This is completed through Zein’s in-depth benchmarking, allowing him to find the best quote for clients. 

“Preparation is key – it’s about having constant discussions with carriers,” he says. “Ever since things opened back up, you have carriers frequently coming into the office looking for business or talking about appetite.”

Dealing with subscription policies can be a challenge for Colangelo, as often, all the carriers involved in the policy may not be service-oriented.

This comes into play particularly when dealing with clients who have bigger premiums. To combat this, Colangelo tackles the situation head-on.

“We speak with the carriers directly. Not only me, but also my employees, and if we don’t get any response from the examiner, then the next day it’s the manager. If there’s still no answer the next day, then we go higher until we get an answer and a check. We are very involved.”

Colangelo highlights her role as crucial to the firm’s broker relations, noting that the claim experience is often a difference maker for brokers when deciding where to place their business.

Her mindset is that clients only judge the true value of their policy when a claim occurs. “It’s simple; if we give good service, the broker will continue to do business with us,” she says.

Availability is paramount to Colangelo, and this is where she believes her leadership shines through. This is evidenced by the speed of action once a claim is received, and she maintains a positive spirit among her team, so they are motivated to keep standards high. “I get involved very closely with my staff. I know everything about them, and I regularly ask, ‘What can I do to make your life better?’”

Zein’s determination and client service throughout the hard market have allowed him to build a deeper trust with clients, who are now able to reap the benefits of lower premiums. “At some point, rates are going to go back up. And we’ll just deal with it accordingly when that time comes,” he says. “But I’m very fortunate that the majority of my clients have been with me throughout the hard times. So now we’re going back to market, and they’re seeing the savings and know that everything I’ve said is coming to fruition.”

Having creative solutions allows Zein to find new clientele who appreciate his team’s deep understanding of construction and real estate. This was exemplified over the past year, when he simplified renewals to get improved coverage on a client’s real estate portfolio. “It’s about understanding your risk, knowing what to do with it, and knowing how to place it,” he says.

Zein is also passionate about mentoring the talent within HUB International, though he remarks that he needs to see a hunger. He says, “I’m the type of person who, if you give me 100 percent, I’ll give you 200 percent.”

One novel component Weekes introduced was the complete rewriting of BOXX’s cyber policy wording, ensuring that plain language was implemented while removing endorsements.

“There is no single sentence that remained the same,” he explains. “We took as much coverage as we could and baked it into the base form so that the client and the broker don’t have to worry about navigating a bunch of endorsements that might cross over or overlap with each other.”

Embodying BOXX’s forward-thinking approach is their “predict, prevent, ensure” motto. This emphasis on connecting with cyber’s most important stakeholders has been a key differentiator for BOXX, according to Weekes, who notes that being up to date on the latest trends is paramount.

He says, “By staying on the front lines with the information security community and speaking with our clients about where they feel they’re most exposed or the challenges that they’re facing, it allows us to stay at the forefront and adapt coverage in our approach to cyber as that environment continues to evolve.”

Andolfatto highlights that pursuing a cross-disciplinary approach is a major opportunity in the market. He comments that professionals who combine insurance fundamentals with data literacy, design thinking, and digital strategy will lead the next phase of growth.

“There is also opportunity in redefining roles around AI supervision and governance – ensuring that technology is used ethically, transparently, and effectively,” he explains. “Beyond that, automation opens capacity: those who adopt it early can redirect time toward innovation, product development, and strategic partnerships that create exponential value rather than incremental improvement.”

This sentiment is echoed by Russell, who states that collaborating with other industry partners in a way that is purpose-built and intentional co-creates value and expands reach.

“This would be hinged on leveraging technology to allow for better, seamless integration, facilitating a fulsome customer value proposition that serves efficiency demands,” she says.

IBC’s insight into the top insurance professionals points to a series of key characteristics that have enabled the Hot List 2025 to stand out:

• mastering risk management
   

• applying emerging technologies
   

• understanding evolving customer expectations
   

• adopting data-driven innovation
   

• navigating climate-related challenges