Signature Risk Partners, a leading non-broker owned managing general agent (MGA), has announced two developments: the opening of its new British Columbia office and the appointment of a new commercial underwriter.

Karen Noel has been named commercial underwriter, effective April 01. As commercial underwriter with Signature Risk Partners, Noel will lead the continued growth of the MGA’s business in Western Canada, a release said. She will coordinate with the underwriting team in Toronto and provide underwriting leadership and broker support in both British Columbia and Alberta.

Noel has more than 30 years of commercial insurance experience. She previously held a number of positions with Aon Reed Stenhouse and Valley First Insurance Services.

Signature Risk Partners develops and markets specialty commercial P&C insurance solutions – particularly for golf and country clubs, wineries, and craft breweries in Canada.

The MGA offers risk management and loss control services, as well as customer response services for golf course owners and operators. For the wine industry, the company provides property coverage and benefits for trellis and grape vines, wine leakage and product recall, special valuation for wines, offsite liability coverage for employees working at tastings, spoilage coverage due to infestation and/or contamination and consequential loss, transportation coverage for wine in transit, winery production machinery, and business interruption coverage. Signature Risk Partners also offers protection for contamination, product recall, exhibition and trade show, packaging errors and damaged stock, and special transit provisions to craft breweries.