Media Release: Surety Association of Canada Announces 2019-20 Board of Directors

December 5, 2019 – Mississauga, ON – The Surety Association of Canada (SAC) held its 28th Annual General Meeting and Awards Gala event on September 18 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. During the AGM portion of the event, the slate of officers was presented for approval by the SAC membership. At the first meeting of the Board of Directors for the 2019-20 fiscal year held yesterday, the executive was officially voted in and will be as follows:

  • Chair:
    • Scott Beitel, Chief Operating Officer, PLATFORM

  • Vice-Chair:
    • Kevan Thompson, Account Executive, Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management Inc.

  • Past Chair:
    • Leandro Gomez, Vice President, Surety, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada

  • Directors:
    • Rob Burns, Senior Vice President, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada
    • Robert Cristiano, Vice President, Everest Re Group Ltd.
    • Ron Ferrero, Senior Vice President - Head of Surety, Partner Re
    • Nicolas Gagnon, Partner, Lavery, de Billy
    • Steven Hastings, Vice President, Surety, Liberty Mutual Canada
    • Steve Hogan, Ontario Surety Manager, Aon Canada
    • Tom Krech, Specialist
    • Raymond Llamas, AVP, Underwriting Director, CNA Surety
    • Brian Logan, Corporate Surety Director, Intact Insurance
    • Brent McAllister, Director, National Accounts, Zurich Canada
    • Darryll McDonald, Vice President, Surety, Echelon Insurance
    • Paul McIntyre, Vice President Surety, Euler Hermes North America Insurance Company
    • Terry Michalakos, Vice President, Surety, AVIVA Canada Inc.
    • Chris Sekine, President & CEO, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
    • Rick Shaban, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP
    • Mark Skanes, Vice President & Officer, Western Surety Company
    • David Smith, Senior Vice President & Head of Canadian Surety, The Guarantee Company of North America

Steven D. Ness, President of the Surety Association of Canada, stated: “Our industry will experience several changes and new opportunities for the association to explore in the upcoming year. I’m very much looking forward to working with this dynamic group of leaders on key priorities to continue with our mission and lobbying efforts for the betterment of the Canadian surety industry.”

For PDF version of Media Release, CLICK HERE.

Back Row (left to right): Leandro Gomez; David Smith; Kevan Thompson; Tom Krech; Ron Ferrero; Brian Logan; Brent McAllister; Paul McIntyre; and Steven Hastings. 

Front Row - Seated (left to right): Mark Skanes; Jody Maillet (note: recently resigned from the SAC Board); Raymond Llamas; Steven D. Ness; Scott Beitel; Rob Burns; Chris Sekine; and Nicolas Gagnon. 

Absent from photo: Robert Cristiano; Steve Hogan; Kevin Irvine; Darryll McDonald; Terry Michalakos; and Rick Shaban.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:

Sharon Clark-Koufis
Director of 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.