Philomena Comerford | Insurance Business CA Hotlist of 2014

PHILOMENA COMERFORD
President & CEO, Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers , Toronto, Ont.

WHY HOT? FIRST WOMAN CHAIR OF INSURANCE INSTITUTE
I am very proud that 2014 marks Baird MacGregor’s 35th year in business and Hargraft’s 140th, and I am honoured to serve as the first woman chair of the Insurance Institute of Canada.

My mother, Rose, who began her insurance career at Commercial Union (CU), encouraged me to work part time with her at Tomenson Saunders. Following art college, I accepted a full-time offer in the claims department.

Six years later, I joined Jack Baird and Harry MacGregor in a joint venture with Kopas Wray and Cameron, was appointed President in 1990 and became a partner in 2000. Newport (now Tuckamore) became our equity partner in 2007 to facilitate Harry and Jack’s retirement purchase.

Hargraft came under our management in 2009 and in 2011, we purchased Tuckamore’s interest in Hargraft, and Baird MacGregor.

Hargraft, established in 1874 became a CU agent in 1900 and merged with Wood Flemming in 1960; coincidentally around the same time my mother joined CU. In 1918, George Hargraft became a founding board member of the Toronto Insurance Conference and today I serve on its board representing Hargraft and Baird MacGregor… my six degrees of separation.
 

To read the full feature, click on the following link Insurance Business Hot List 2014.