Evan Johnston, who assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, has introduced his new executive leadership team.

Johnston, who is the company’s 10th leader, said the executive team will include:

• Kimberly Palatnick, SVP, chief personal lines officer
• Anna McCrindell, SVP, chief commercial lines officer
• Jocelyne Prefontaine, SVP, chief claims and life co. officer
• Randy Dhillon, SVP, chief distribution & regional operations officer
• Grant Ostir, CEO, western financial group
• Mike Brisebois, SVP, chief strategy & corporate actuarial officer
• James Bond, SVP, chief legal & corporate affairs officer
• Gord Dowhan, SVP, chief financial officer
• Lisa Osachoff, SVP, chief people & culture officer
• Tracy Riley, SVP, chief technology & analytics officer

Commenting on the appointments, Johnston emphasized his commitment to strengthening the company and utilizing the talent across Wawanesa.

"We are a strong company today. The changes we’re making are intended to help Wawanesa be more competitive and market-focused while delivering better results," he stated.

Kimberly Palatnick and Randy Dhillon are new members of the executive team, each bringing 20 years of experience in managing various functions. Additionally, Graham Haigh, a Wawanesa executive for 16 years, will retire this summer.

Wawanesa has also restructured its operations, moving away from its East/West business model to a more streamlined approach.

The company will now operate through four lines of business: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, Wawanesa Life, and Western Financial Group.

"Wawanesa is Canada’s largest P&C mutual,” Johnston noted. “We’ve had a storied and successful past, but we have an even bigger future in front of us in making a difference in the lives of Canadians."

He added that the company is focused on continuing its legacy while adapting to changes in the insurance industry.