Mississauga, Ont.-based Jacox-Hilton Inc., a provider of data mining and analytics tools for insurance advisors, announced on Monday the appointments of Byren Innes and Jim Ruta to the company’s board of advisors.
Jacox-Hilton develops technology solutions designed to help carriers, distributors, and financial advisors increase production and improve policyholder retention. One of its flagship products, LifeAssist, uses analytics to help advisors identify sales opportunities within their existing book of business.
Effective immediately, Innes and Ruta are joining the company’s advisory board, which is comprised of life insurance and software professionals.
Innes, senior vice president and a director with NewLink Group Inc. in Toronto, has held executive positions with Crown Life, ScotiaMcLeod, and Aetna Life. He was also on the executive board of Toronto-based Canadian Life Insurance Standards Association (CLIEDIS).
“Byren is an expert on the Canadian life insurance distribution channels,” said Cameron Jacox, managing partner at Jacox-Hilton. “Every strategic decision at our company involves Byren and our phenomenal growth has been reliant on his expertise.”
Ruta, president of Burlington, Ont.-based Expertinstitute.com, has extensive insurance industry experience, including management positions with Confederation Life and Canada Life.
“Jim is the man who simultaneously keeps our industry jumping in the air, as well as firmly on the ground,” said Jacox. “His passion and expertise have taken our marketing and corporate identity soaring. He knows what brokers want.”
Jacox-Hilton also announced the appointment of Helena Smeenk-Pritchard, as MGA implementation manager, to the company’s operational team. Smeenk-Pritchard has more than 35 years of industry experience, including a position as insurance product manager at London Life. She has also worked as a coach focused on driving broker productivity.