Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is making several changes to its senior management team, including giving new responsibilities to experienced young managers, in an effort to support the company’s development strategy.

On Tuesday, the company announced four appointments that take effect immediately.

Denis Ricard, currently senior vice president and chief actuary, has been appointed senior vice president of business development. Ricard will be in charge of special development mandates in personal financial services — an area has experienced significant growth in the past few years, according to the company.

Ricard will report to Normand Pépin, executive vice- president for the individual insurance and wealth management sectors. At 48, Ricard has a degree in actuarial sciences from Laval University and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries.

He joined Industrial Alliance in 1985, holding positions in actuarial services and IT at the company’s head office in Quebec City and its subsidiary in Vancouver, and was later named director of actuarial services and assistant vice president of marketing for individual insurance and annuities.

René Chabot, currently senior vice president of group pensions, has been appointed senior vice president and chief actuary. Chabot will be responsible for the actuarial, accounting and investor relations teams. He will also act as chief financial officer and will continue to be chairman of the company’s pension plans. Chabot will report to president and CEO Charest.

At 48, Chabot has a degree in actuarial sciences from Laval University and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries. He joined Industrial Alliance in 1983, and previously held the position of director of actuarial services and assistant vice president of marketing for individual insurance and annuities.

Renée Laflamme, currently vice president of mortgage loans, has been appointed vice president of group pensions. Laflamme will report to Michel Tremblay, executive vice president of investments.

At 43, Laflamme has a Bachelor of Administration from Laval University and is a chartered accountant and chartered financial analyst. After ten years with a large accounting firm, she joined Industrial Alliance in 1998 as director of client services for the investment department.

To support Laflamme in her new duties, Lucie Lachance, currently director of the actuarial and marketing department for group pensions, was promoted to senior director of actuarial, marketing and administration services.

At 41, Lachance has a degree in actuarial sciences from Laval University and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries. She joined Industrial Alliance in 1991 and gained more than 15 years of experience in the group pensions department.

Michel Tremblay, in his capacity as executive vice president of investments, will supervise activities in the group pensions sector and will be responsible for the company’s financing activities.

“These appointments add depth to our business development team and give our managers the chance to increase their knowledge of the company and put their talent to work in new business lines,” said Yvon Charest, president and CEO of Industrial Alliance. “We have the opportunity to benefit from a young, experienced, versatile and dynamic management team. Each person we appointed stands out through their leadership and was the driver behind the success of their business line. I’m confident that they’ll use their talent and skills to meet new challenges and take Industrial Alliance to the next level.”

IE