Media Release: Surety Association of Canada Announces 2024-2025 Board of Directors

January 20, 2025 – Mississauga, ON – The Surety Association of Canada (SAC) held its 33rd Annual General Meeting and Conference on September 26 and 27, 2024, at the Hilton Toronto Hotel where the slate of officers was presented and approved by the SAC membership. On December 3, 2024, 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, President, PLATFORM
  • Iqbal Bhinder, SVP, Contract Surety, RAISE Underwriting (Board Vice Chair)
  • Guillaume Burroughs, National Vice President, Surety, REVAU
  • Robert Cristiano, Vice President, Surety & Credit Worldwide, Everest Reinsurance Group
  • 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, Senior Vice President - Surety, Liberty Mutual Canada
  • David Johnston, National Director - Commercial Surety, Aon Canada Inc.
  • Tom Krech, Vice President, Construction Surety, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada (Board Chair)
  • Sean Linton, AVP, Commercial and Reclamation Surety, Aviva Insurance Company of Canada
  • Raymond Llamas, Assistant Vice President - Underwriting Director, CNA Surety
  • Aimee Mather, Chief Underwriting Officer, Commercial Surety, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada
  • Paul McIntyre, Vice President, Surety, Allianz Trade Canada
  • Sarina Puccio, Head of Credit and Surety, Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada, Ltd.
  • Rick Shaban, Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP
  • Glen Shaw, Head of Surety North America, Partner Reinsurance Company
  • David Smith, President, Surety Canada, Intact Insurance
  • Sheila E. Thompson, President, Rosenberg & Parker of Canada, Inc.
  • James Toothill, Chief Claims Officer and Privacy Officer, Western Surety Company
  • Jordan Walker, Head of Surety, Canada, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.

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

Steven D. Ness, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Surety Association of Canada, stated: “We are grateful for the continued support of our Board of Directors who each bring a diverse background and their expertise which helps to guide our association with our Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives.” 

To support SAC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, at the December 3, 2024 meeting it was also confirmed that the following two individuals will be continuing to participate in the association’s Board Internship Program:

Lezlie Abboud, Account Manager,
Rosenberg & Parker of Canada, Inc.

Laura Delemere, Partner, 
Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP

  

 

Last year, there were a few departures which resulted in welcoming several new individuals to represent their firms in the role. “On behalf of our entire team at the Surety Association of Canada, we would like to express our profound thanks to past Directors, namely Max Fratarcangeli, Sean Reilly, Jeffrey Ryan, and Mark Skanes; as well as outgoing Board Intern, Julie Morissette. We also extend a warm welcome to our newest directors, Sean Linton, Glen Shaw, and James Toothill.” Mr. Ness further noted.

For PDF version of Media Release, CLICK HERE.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Sharon Clark-Koufis
Vice President, Operations
Surety Association of Canada
P: (905) 677-1353 ext. 202
C: (647) 973-8722
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.