At the annual general meeting of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. (CLHIA) held in Quebec City today, Pierre-Yves Julien, president and CEO, Medavie Blue Cross, was elected as chairman of the association for the upcoming year.

“I am very much looking forward to chairing the CLHIA over the next year. These are particularly important times for Canadians with so many significant challenges facing our country. I believe that the life and health insurance industry has a great deal to contribute, for example to the ongoing debate on health care reform,” said Julien in a release.

Julien previously served on the CLHIA board for two years, and most recently as chairman elect in 2007-2008.

He has been president and CEO for Medavie Blue Cross since 2001. Prior to joining Medavie Blue Cross, he served as president and CEO of its subsidiary company, Blue Cross Life Insurance Co. of Canada.

He began his career as a pension specialist with consultants and governments in both Canada and New Zealand.

In addition to these roles, Julien currently serves on the board of Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada, Enterprise Greater Moncton, and Overland Realty Limited, and has held positions on boards of non-profit organizations in the past. He holds a bachelor degree in actuarial science from Laval University, as well as the professional designations of Fellow, Society of Actuaries and Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

During his term in office, Julien will be working with a newly-elected board of directors. As required by CLHIA’s by-laws, the board will include: chairman elect Paul Reaburn, president and CEO, Transamerica Life Canada (AEGON Canada Inc.); as well as two past chairmen, Yvon Charest, president and CEO, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., and Peter McCarthy, president and CEO, AIG Life Insurance Company of Canada.

They will be joined by other directors:

> Ronald Beettam, president and CEO, The Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Canada;

> Alain Brunet, president and CEO, National Bank Life Insurance Co.;

> Dominic D’Alessandro, president and CEO, Manulife Financial;

> Mary Forrest, head of North America (Life), Munich Reinsurance Co.;

> Mario Georgiev, president, Optimum Reassurance Inc.;

> Gordon Henderson, president and CEO, BMO Life Insurance Co.;

> Allen Loney, president and CEO, The Great-West Life Assurance Co./London Life Insurance Co./The Canada Life Assurance Co.; and

> Donald Stewart, CEO, Sun Life Financial Inc.

CLHIA represents companies that together account for over 99% of Canada’s life and health insurance business.