Kingsway Financial Services Inc. today announced several executive changes to create its leadership team, align management responsibilities and formulate Kingsway’s strategy for the future.

Shelly Gobin is appointed senior vp and CFO. Gobin was recently promoted to vp and CFO in January of this year. She will also assume overall responsibility for reinsurance in her new role.

Colin Simpson is appointed senior vp and chief strategy officer. Simpson is currently president and CEO of York Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. and he will retain this position for the foreseeable future. Simpson joined York Fire in 2004 and has been instrumental in increasing York Fire’s profile within the Canadian marketplace. In his new role he will assume responsibility for strategic planning, corporate underwriting development, strategic shared services and group acquisitions.

Dennis Fielding is appointed senior vp and chief administration officer. Fielding, previously a vp of Kingsway joined Kingsway in 1998 and has been responsible for human resources and administration. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for information technology, procurement of goods and services, facilities management, and business continuity and disaster recovery planning.

In addition, Kathleen Howie has been appointed vp and general counsel, Kingsway Financial and Amy Pinkerman Condo has been appointed vp and general counsel of Kingsway’s U.S. holding company, Kingsway America Inc. Howie, currently assistant vp and chief legal counsel of Kingsway, has an extensive background in complex insurance litigation and significant experience in regulatory compliance, privacy and corporate governance. Pinkerman Condo, currently assistant vp and chief legal counsel of Kingsway America Inc., has 13 years of experience representing insurance companies and agencies, principally handling corporate, transactional and regulatory compliance matters.

The directors of the company have elected Michael Walsh to the position of non-executive chairman of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. effective May 8. Walsh has been a director of Kingsway since 2000 and was appointed lead director in 2003.

“These executive changes are the next phase in implementing Kingsway’s future direction”, says Shaun Jackson, president and CEO. “The appointments are well deserved and are an important step in forming a strong leadership team at Kingsway that will allow us to successfully develop and execute our strategy for the future.”