Axis Insurance has appointed Bryan Craigen to the newly created role of head of carrier relations.
The move underscores the brokerage's focus on strengthening insurer partnerships at a time when capacity and pricing pressures remain central issues in the market.
Craigen, who brings more than 20 years of industry experience, will oversee Axis’s carrier strategy and work to align insurer offerings with client needs. Stronger carrier relationships have become increasingly important for brokers as they seek to secure favourable terms and maintain coverage options amid rising premiums and tighter underwriting standards.
The creation of a dedicated carrier relations role reflects wider market pressures.
Insurers have been recalibrating their risk appetites in response to inflation, higher reinsurance costs, and climate-related exposures. For brokers, the ability to negotiate effectively with carriers has become a competitive advantage in ensuring clients can access the coverage they require.
Axis Insurance, founded in 1928, has grown into a national brokerage with more than 400 employees across Canada. It operates 16 specialized practice groups and offers services in commercial and personal insurance, life and employee benefits, and wealth advisory.
The move to bolster carrier relations follows another key leadership change. Axis recently named Mary Falconer as chief financial officer.
Falconer has more than 35 years of international finance and executive leadership experience across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments. She will oversee financial stewardship at a time when brokerages are facing mounting pressures to scale, manage capital efficiently, and adapt to shifting economic and regulatory landscapes.
By adding senior leadership in both carrier relations and finance, Axis is positioning itself to navigate an environment where brokers must balance client demands with evolving insurer strategies. The firm said the appointments are part of its broader effort to strengthen resilience and support clients as they manage increasingly complex risks.
