All-star Carrier: Unica Insurance

All-star Carrier: Unica Insurance
https://www.unicainsurance.com/

Headquarters: Mississauga, ON
Year founded: 1955
Number of employees: 151
Leadership: Dave Smiley, COO; Jennifer Ronca, vice-president, P&C insurance; Cristine Chan, assistant vice-president, HR and shared services; Nancy Covel, assistant vice-president, marketing and operational services; Mark Fonseca, assistant vice-president, legal services; Steve Lewicki, assistant vice-president, claims; Maxime Morin, assistant vice-president, information technology; Patrice Raby, assistant vice-president, actuarial; Chris Weston, assistant vice-president, broker financial solutions

Unica Insurance provides niche commercial and VIP personal insurance solutions to protect high-net-worth clients’ homes, vehicles and businesses. The company’s roots date back to 1955, when it was a non-standard automobile insurer called York Fire & Casualty Insurance Company. In 2008, York Fire & Casualty was acquired by La Capitale General Insurance and, following the acquisition, rebranded to Unica Insurance.

The company reinvented itself as a niche carrier focused on seven commercial segments and high-net-worth personal insurance solutions. “This laser-sharp focus allows us to really understand the needs of these customers and deliver best-in-class insurance solutions and claims services that directly align with their needs and expectations,” says COO Dave Smiley.

Unica also refocused its broker strategy to semi-exclusive appointments. “A real linchpin of Unica’s strategy is to deliver industry-leading service and build strong, strategic relationships with our broker partners,” Smiley says. “We’re a big proponent of ‘less is more,’ and the only way for us to build those relationships and deliver real value is by having a limited number of relationships and making them more meaningful.”

Unica was an IBC Five-Star Carrier and Top Insurance Workplace in 2019; the company also won P&C Insurer of the Year at the 2019 Insurance Business Canada Awards. “[These are all] an acknowledgement of the work we’ve put into the reinvention of Unica over the last 10 years,” Smiley says. “It’s great to have some recognition of our progression and our success, and we’re very grateful that our brokers see us as a valued partner.”

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