20-year legacy claims professional to take on leadership and point of contact for the organization
Edmonton, Alberta, September 2022 – Excel Insurance Group, representing thirteen independently owned and operated broker firms throughout Western Canada, announced Sarah Hirst as Executive Director. Sarah brings past board experience with IINA, NARIMS, Blue Goose, as national Past President of CIAA, and professionally as Manager of Claims for Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and District Manager, ClaimsPro LP. She holds her FCIP and CRM designations and is pursuing her MBA. Her employment with Excel commenced in September 2022.
Hirst, spent much of her career in the independent claims adjusting sector, giving her a fervent outlook on supporting independent ownership and advocacy in promoting local operations. In this role, Sarah brings her provincial and national professional experience to help strengthen corporate operations increasing efficiency and excellence for member firms. She will work closely with the Board to promote the brand and recruit and cultivate new partners and firms that align with Excel’s core values and history of customer loyalty.
“Sarah’s technical background in claims and operations brings a new skill set to our team. She is the right leader in bringing focus on growth for Excel Group and a sense of support to our firms in their own individual goals” Robyn Young President and CEO Excel & Y Insurance Services (Calgary) and Chair of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). “We are excited that Sarah has joined the team,” said Karen Dyberg, CEO Dyberg Insurance Group and Past President of IBAA. “As independent brokerages face pressure to join conglomerates to preserve their voice with carriers, we believe she is someone who can show a different path forward for Principals who want to remain a part of the businesses they have spent a lifetime developing” Lareese Graf, Partner & General Manager Excel Lloydminster.
Excel Insurance Group Inc started in 2014 and includes thirteen branches and over 150 brokers in Western Canada.
Reporting directly to the Board, Sarah will be responsible as a key point of contact for insurers, member firms and new partners for Excel. For Inquiries: sarah@excelrisk.ca
