AVP, Commercial Auto - Montreal

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada.

If you have experience in commercial auto underwriting, market-facing leadership, and driving profitable growth, and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Zurich Canada is currently looking for an AVP, Commercial Auto to lead a high-performing underwriting team and drive disciplined growth across our commercial auto portfolio. Reporting to the SVP, Commercial Auto, you will lead a team of market-facing underwriters, driving new business production, portfolio profitability, and strong broker relationships. You will play a critical role in shaping underwriting strategy, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring alignment with Zurich’s risk appetite while delivering strong financial outcomes.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Zurich Canada uses artificial intelligence–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process, including the initial review and screening of applications. Artificial intelligence is not the sole basis for candidate shortlisting or selection. All hiring decisions are reviewed and made by qualified hiring professionals.

Zurich follows a hybrid work model requiring three days per week of in-person presence, which may include time in the office or market-facing engagements.

What you will do:

• Manage market facing underwriters who proactively seek renewal and new account opportunities.
• Identifies new growth opportunities with key distributors for areas of responsibility.
• Ensure that accounts are qualified, and meet with the organization's appetite, balanced with sound business opportunity.
• Along with underwriters in areas supervised, make agents/broker/customer and on-sight calls with a planned and well prepared purpose.
• Oversee negotiations of Terms & Conditions and closes deals.
• Ensure cross-sell within areas of responsibility to increase product density with the account.
• Provide continuous coaching on sales best practices.
• Mentor staff to develop strong broker and client networks as related to industries underwritten by Business Unit.
• Monitor Sales Funnel and Production Metrics of team.
• Identify market trends and coverage exposures that may impact business results. Work with actuarial to ensure a proper rate / price structure.
• Manage relationships with producers by conducting line of business, book of business, class and segment analysis to ensure profitability and growth.
• Market company products and services through agency plant and brokerage community.
• Support development and maintenance of agent/broker relationships to achieve profitable growth, market share, product mix, new business and account retention.
• Improve customer relations, profitability and productivity by continually analyzing branch office’s new business, loss ratio, expense ratio, loss frequency, agency distribution, product mix to determine its impact on other business units.
• Review agency books of business as well as profit/growth results and trends to recommend and implement action plans.

What you bring to the table:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent and 7 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area

OR

• Bachelor’s Degree and 5 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area

AND

• 2 or more years of management experience

Fluency in both spoken and written English is required to facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders outside Quebec. 

Our Culture

•    At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.
•    We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.
•    We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package.
•    We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that.
•    We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.
•    We are committed to continuous improvement and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.
•    We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources.
•    We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.

M ake a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 650 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow.