Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services has appointed Gerry Bouwers as president and chief operating officer of its subsidiary, Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services.

Prior to his appointment, Bouwers occupied the position of vp and general manager, individual insurance and annuities, Canada, at Industrial Alliance Pacific.

Bouwers’ appointment comes after the retirement of John Gill as President of Industrial Alliance Pacific, announced on May 4.
“This appointment is the continuation and crowning achievement in Mr. Bouwers’ career at Industrial Alliance Pacific. I know that he will meet his new responsibilities with great enthusiasm and vigour,” said Yvon Charest, Yvon Charest, president and CEO of Industrial Alliance, in a release.

Industrial Alliance Pacific is the Vancouver-based life and health insurance subsidiary of Industrial Alliance. As the new president, Bouwers’ mandate will be to pursue the growth of individual insurance and wealth management activities in Western Canada, as well as to continue to develop Industrial Alliance Pacific’s two niche markets across the country — the automobile dealer creditor insurance sector (SAL) and the special markets group insurance sector (SMG).

Bouwers holds a Master’s degree in mathematics (computer science) from the University of Waterloo. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

Bouwers began his career in the insurance industry in 1974 and has occupied several positions at different life insurance companies, including North West Life and Seaboard Life. These two latter companies were acquired by Industrial Alliance in 1982 and 1999 respectively and merged in 1999 to form the company now known as Industrial Alliance Pacific.

Charest also announced the promotion of Mike Stickney as executive vp, U.S. development, Industrial Alliance. In his new position, Stickney will be responsible for managing and developing Industrial Alliance Pacific’s U.S. operations, which are primarily concentrated in the north-west. He will report to Charest.

Stickney holds a Bachelor’s degree in science (mathematics) and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He began his career in 1976 at North West Life, before going on to occupy various insurance-related positions at other companies, including Seaboard Life.

Prior to his appointment, Stickney occupied the position of vp and general manager, group insurance, at Industrial Alliance Pacific. He was head of the SAL and SMG sectors.

“We anticipate Mr. Stickney will be just as successful in managing the U.S. operations for Industrial Alliance Pacific as he was in managing the SAL and SMG businesses,” said Charest.