Royal & SunAlliance Canada Group announced Tuesday that Rowan Saunders has been appointed president and CEO. Saunders begins his new role immediately.

Prior to this appointment, Saunders was president of Agilon Financial, part of the Royal & SunAlliance Canada Group. He was also vice president, personal insurance, Royal & SunAlliance Canada, where he had both strategic and operational responsibility.

Saunders joined the company in 1987 and has worked in a number of underwriting, finance and management roles in Canada.

Commenting on the appointment, Simon Lee, chief executive international businesses, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc said: “Mr. Saunders has been key in leading the Canadian Personal Insurance businesses in a successful turnaround in financial performance and has grown the Agilon business organically by $80 million over three years. He has extensive insurance experience having held leadership roles in the commercial, personal and specialty lines of business.”

Larry Simmons, immediate past president and CEO, is retiring from the company and is returning to the United States..

The Royal & SunAlliance Canada Group is composed of Roins Financial Services Ltd., Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Co. of Canada, Quebec Assurance Co., The Johnson Corp., Western Assurance Co., Ascentus Insurance Ltd., Agilon Financial and is part of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc.