The Insurance Brokers Association of New Brunswick (IBANB) became the second provincial broker association to suspend its partnership with Aviva Canada in three months last week after its board voted in favour of the suspension of Aviva’s direct-to-consumer, online options that it believes compete with the broker channel.
“We will continue to have conversations with Aviva to hopefully resolve the issue,” Andrew McNair, CEO of IBANB said when responding to why he thinks Aviva keeps angering brokers with conflicting lines of business.
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Issues following the acquisition of Aviva Canada and concerns over its partnership with RBC and Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment were what pushed the IBANB to put the partnership on ice, according to a press release announcing the suspension.
The release from the IBANB also said “having a business partner compete against you, with the same brand you have helped build, does not sit well with brokers.”
Ontario’s chapter, the IBAO, suspended its partnership with Aviva Canada over the company competing against its own brokers as well on January 23.
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“Aviva continues to prove that they are not a true partner to the collective broker channel in Ontario,” IBAO’s CEO, Colin Simpson said at the time.
As to whether other broker associations will follow the IBANB and IBAO’s lead in the future by also suspending their partnerships, Andrew McNair said: “They will make their own decisions.”
When asked what his advice to brokers was who were looking at a shifting market, McNair said: “Brokers will continue to make their own business decisions that help them ensure they can do what is best for their clients.”
The IBANB said in its press release Aviva Canada was making the market murky for brokers and consumers.
“The multi-channel use of the same brand name creates confusion among consumers over what Aviva Insurance is and who services the account in the event of a claim. It is also of great concern to brokers who have been an integral part of growing the Aviva brand through their brokerages. Having a business partner compete against you, with the same brand you have helped build, does not sit well with brokers,” the release said.
In response, Aviva issued the following statement to Insurance Business: "Aviva remains fully committed to the independent broker channel in New Brunswick and across the country," it said. "We have a very clear strategy and continue to focus on helping our brokers to grow their business."
