Professional Profile

Strategic Advisor and Leader
ghislain@ghbrj.ca | Montreal, QC | 514-726-0359


Strategic Advisor and Leader with over 20 years of experience in property and casualty insurance, primarily in commercial insurance. Background combining strategic influence, executive support, and people management. Recognized for operating effectively at an executive level based on solid management experience and a varied background in actuarial science and business analytics.

Experience

Strategic Advisor, Commercial Insurance

Beneva | Montreal, QC Aug 2024 — Present

Senior cross-functional role without direct hierarchical responsibility, supporting the Vice-President of Commercial Insurance. Mandate focused on business strategy and organizational evolution, leveraging strong management experience.

  • Leading the development of a long-term strategic growth plan in commercial insurance (2025–2030 horizon), targeting $1B direct written premium.

  • Defining growth priorities and structuring a high-level action plan mobilizing several cross-functional teams.

  • Developing business cases including financial, organizational impact analysis, and resource needs, transitioning toward implementation.

  • Coordinating and leading continuous improvement of annual planning and workforce planning processes.

  • Reference point for innovation and generative AI, supporting leaders in adopting tools and managing change within their teams.

Skills: Business Strategy · Executive Facilitation · Strategic Positioning · Business Case · Governance · Organizational Evolution · Generative AI

Senior Manager1, Claims Analytics

Co-operators General Insurance Company | Montreal, QC Jan 2020 — Jul 2024

Leadership of the claims analytics function in a department comprising approximately 1,600 employees, with annual claims payments totaling about $2B, within a context of increasing maturity and organizational transformation.

  • Structuring the mission, governance models, and prioritization of business issues.

  • Strategic partner to claims management teams for defining high-impact business problems (workforce planning, performance management, quality assurance, risk management, vendor management).

  • Negotiating and implementing operating and service models enabling consistent and data-driven decision-making.

  • Managing multidisciplinary teams of up to ~20 professionals, including recruiting 15+ resources.

  • People leadership, developing and coaching talent.

  • Technical reviewer ensuring quality of team deliverables.

Skills: People Management | Problem Solving | Performance Management | Process Improvement | Negotiation | Change Management

Actuarial Manager2 & Expert

Co-operators General Insurance Company | Montreal, QC May 2014 — Jan 2020

Responsible for actuarial work related to a commercial insurance portfolio representing approximately $300M in annual premiums.

  • Rate pricing, segmentation, and indication analyses.

  • Designing and implementing rating algorithms (Guidewire) and risk selection tools.

  • Supporting strategic decisions related to portfolio growth and profitability.

  • Team leadership (6 to 8 professionals) and technical reference role.

Actuarial Consultant

Intact Financial Corporation & AXA Canada | Vancouver, BC Aug 2009 — Apr 2014

Conducted pricing mandates in commercial insurance for Western Canada, including filings in commercial auto, small and medium-sized enterprises, programs and large accounts, specialized insurance (E&O, D&O), and earthquake coverage.

Education

M.Sc. Microprogram - Data Mining in Business Intelligence
HEC Montréal | Montreal, QC 2018 — 2019

B.Sc. Actuarial Science
Université Laval | Quebec, QC 2004 — 2007

Professional Titles

Fellow, Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) May 2012 — Present

Fellow, Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FICA) Expired | Nov 2012 — Sep 2022

Volunteering and Other Experiences

Board Member, Board of Directors
La Remise Tool Library | Montreal, QC Oct 2017 — Apr 2019

La Remise is the first tool library in Montreal. Helped the cooperative consolidate and grow its service offerings for local community members.

Governance Pipeline Program 2016-2017
Institute on Governance (IGOPP) | Montreal, QC Nov 2016 — May 2017

About Me

Values Curiosity | Humility | Authenticity | Learning and Development

Strengths Ideation | Adaptability | Strategic | Individualization | Learner (StrengthFinder 2.0)

Languages French | English



References available upon request


Footnotes

  1. As Senior Manager, I supervised managers and data analysts/scientists↩︎

  2. As Manager, I supervised junior and senior actuaries↩︎