CEO Panel

Ben Isotta-Riches is the Chief Distribution Officer for Aviva Canada and is responsible for sales, marketing, communication and distribution across all products and all channels. Prior to this role Ben was the MD of Strategic partnerships and has held the roles of CIO, CMO, and chief digital officer at Aviva Canada since joining the Executive team in 2015.

Before moving to Canada in 2015, Ben worked for Aviva since 2003 in roles in the UK General Insurance Business, IT and group head office working with Aviva’s insurance businesses across Europe. Ben led the development of the technology capability in Aviva's digital innovation garage that built several industry award-winning web and mobile propositions for customers.

Ben has a Master's Degree in Computer Science from the University of East Anglia, a Bachelor's degree in Film Studies from the University of Kent, design qualifications from Central Saint Martin's School of Art and Design, and executive education from both INSEAD and Oxford University.

As Senior Vice-President and Chief Distribution Officer for Economical Insurance, Tom oversees national broker distribution and marketing for the group of companies servicing the broker channel under the Definity banner, including retail, group, special risk, farm and pet insurance business under the Economical, Family and Petline brands.

Tom has more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in the property and casualty industry — including commercial underwriting, personal and group underwriting, marketing, and broker management with companies such as Aviva, Pilot, Axa, and Wellington. Tom worked previously for Economical in senior roles between 1995 and 2006.

Tom has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario. Tom also holds his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. Tom is a former member and President of the Executive Council at the Insurance Institute of Ontario and is also the former Chair of the Board for Family Insurance Solutions in British Columbia.

Tom is very focused on his family. He and his wife have been married 34 years and he has two amazing children (and an amazing daughter-in-law) and just recently was blessed with his second grandchild. Tom loves completing home renovations and has done over 75% of the work in his home. He says nothing feels better than swinging a hammer after a long day of meetings!

Appointed to her current role in February 2024, Andrea Balfour joined Intact in 2008. In her previous roles, she led several belairdirect Quebec teams, delivering outperformance in customer experience and service. She’s also led Intact’s national research team, dedicated to better understanding how customers’ needs evolve. Now based in Dartmouth, Andrea is focused on supporting broker success in Atlantic Canada. 

Andrea holds a BA in Economics from the University of Ottawa and is a certified Project Management Professional. She believes that growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone, and she demonstrates this by continually taking on challenges – both professionally and in her personal life through her passion for trekking. 

Paul leads the Personal Insurance Sales and Distribution team in Canada, as well as the Canadian Marketing, Events and Social Media, and Broker Learning teams.

Paul has been with Travelers for 28 years, starting as an underwriting trainee in 1996 and working across various lines and roles of increasing responsibility. His previous roles include VP of Business Insurance Distribution, where he led distribution for the business insurance proposition in Canada for two years, and Field VP of Select Business Insurance, where he was the business field leader for small business teams in Canada for two years.

Paul holds a B.A. (Honours) in economics from Queen’s University and an MBA in marketing and human resources from McMaster University.

Anna McCrindell is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Eastern Canada at Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, where she leads Wawanesa’s operations in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, as well as Wawanesa’s Commercial Insurance operations nationally. Anna brings 33 years of commercial underwriting and leadership experience gained through roles with global and Canadian organizations.

Anna is the 2019 recipient of the Steamatic Canada Award for Woman of Distinction presented by Insurance Business Canada. In 2020 recognized on Insurance Business Canada’s top 45 Elite Women. Anna is a member of the Board of the Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and a former Governor and Chair of the Academic Council for the Insurance Institute of Canada. Anna has her FCIP, CRM, an Honours BA from the University of Toronto, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School. Anna received the top student FCIP award.