Headquarters:

1700 601 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Year founded:

1989

Number of employees:

150

Phone:

604 669 5211

Email:

marketing@premiergroup.ca

Website:

premiergroup.ca

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/premier-marine-insurance-managers-group

“We love to win. We’re tenacious, and we believe in getting results”

Brett Vincent, Vincent Young Lawyers

Karen Hopkins-Lee

Interim President and Chief Operating Officer

Maria Rezvanova

Vice President, Finance

Owen Ting

Vice President, Commercial Lines

Leadership

Karen Hopkins-Lee serves as interim president and COO of Premier Marine and Premier Canada Assurance. With over 25 years of leadership experience spanning start-ups, national MGAs, and insurers, she joined PREMIER in 2020. Hopkins-Lee is dedicated to driving strategic initiatives that align team collaboration, broker service, innovation, and technology to foster growth in Canada’s specialty insurance market. A graduate of Mount Allison University, she has furthered her expertise with CIP, CAIB, AIRC, and ARM designations. Hopkins-Lee is also a past finalist for IBC’s Elite Women, reflecting her commitment to excellence and leadership within the industry.

Interim President and Chief Operating Officer

Karen Hopkins-Lee

As vice president of finance, Maria Rezvanova oversees financial planning, budgeting, and reporting at Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine. With over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting across healthcare, technology, and mining, she is a strategic leader known for driving operational efficiencies and supporting sustainable growth. At Premier, she works closely with the executive team to ensure financial goals align with business strategy, playing a critical role in guiding the company’s long-term success.

Vice President, Finance

Maria Rezvanova

Owen Ting leads the commercial insurance portfolio at Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine as vice president of commercial lines. With more than 20 years in the insurance industry, he is recognized for his expertise in underwriting, risk assessment, and relationship management. He is responsible for driving profitable growth, strengthening broker partnerships, and delivering strong underwriting results. Ting’s client-centric approach and deep understanding of market trends make him a key leader in advancing Premier’s commercial lines business.

Vice President, Commercial Lines

Owen Ting

Leadership

“A true leader can see potential in different employees, regardless of their position. Listening and recognizing the value of each individual not only inspires them but also makes them grow professionally”

Saray Uribe, CharSan Insurance & Consulting

Leadership

Jana Ulicna

Vice President, Claims

As vice president of claims, Jana Ulicna oversees all aspects of claims operations at Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine. With over 15 years of experience in insurance and claims management, she is committed to service excellence and fair, efficient claims resolution. She leads both strategic initiatives and day-to-day management, ensuring regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction. Ulicna is known for her ability to streamline processes and drive performance improvements across the claims function.

Vice President, Claims

Jana Ulicna

Chad Hunter

Vice President, Technology

Chad Hunter serves as vice president of technology at Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine, where he leads the company’s technology strategy and innovation initiatives. With more than 20 years in technology leadership, he has a proven track record of modernizing legacy systems and enhancing digital resilience. He is focused on aligning technology with business goals, leveraging emerging technologies, and driving efficiency and competitive advantage for Premier.

Vice President, Technology

Chad Hunter

Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine has built its reputation on service, innovation, and growth. Founded in 1989 on the flagship Marine Pleasure craft program, it has grown into one of Canada’s largest specialty MGAs with expertise across commercial, specialty personal lines, and marine insurance. From its head office in Vancouver and regional presence in Alberta (virtual), London, Cambridge, and Toronto, as well as Laval, Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine serves brokers nationwide with a portfolio that now spans more than 80 products. That range includes construction, environmental, professional liability, specialty personal lines, general property, commercial auto, and specialty casualty, as well as tailored coverages for niche sectors such as recreational vehicles, amateur sports, food trucks, and cyber risk. At the core of Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine’s growth is a culture built on responsiveness and accountability. The company takes pride in empowering its people to act quickly and decisively for the benefit of brokers. “Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine is recognized for its integrity, responsiveness, and innovation,” Karen Hopkins-Lee, interim president and COO, explains. “We take pride in fostering a collaborative workspace where teams are empowered to make decisions that put our brokers first.” This agility allows Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine to adapt to changing conditions and implement operational improvements without delay. That commitment carries through to professional development. The company runs ongoing training and technical workshops, not only giving staff the tools to stay ahead of market trends but also offering these workshops and bespoke training to broker partners to support continuing education needs. Just as important is how Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine works with its partners. The ability to shape coverage quickly and with precision has been a defining trait since its earliest days. Flexibility, solution-driven teams, and a culture of collaboration remain the qualities brokers rely on most. Its leaders describe this as a deliberate approach that balances technical expertise with a relationship-driven ethos. “We maintain our reputation through consistency over the past 36 years. Our partners know that when they work with us, they’re gaining access to underwriting expertise, innovative products, and a team that genuinely cares about their business,” says Hopkins-Lee. The leadership team, including interim president and COO Karen Hopkins-Lee, vice president of finance Maria Rezvanova, vice president of claims Jana Ulicna, vice president of technology Chad Hunter, vice president of commercial lines Owen Ting, and vice president of personal lines and marine Jennifer Lehman, has been instrumental in steering this strategy. Together, they bring decades of experience and a results-driven mindset. Their decisions have broadened product lines, streamlined operations, and kept Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine prepared for new and emerging risks. Technology sits at the centre of that strategy. A multi-year transformation is now in motion, with a launch slated for early 2026. The new system will expand quote-bind-issue capabilities and provide brokers with access to a real-time portal and tools designed to reduce turnaround times, making the overall experience faster and more efficient. The investment reflects a broader commitment to modernization. By combining tech-enabled tools with underwriting depth, Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine is positioning itself as a forward-looking MGA that can keep pace with evolving broker expectations. For clients, Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine delivers expert underwriting, impartial claims handling, and product innovation. For employees, the company promises a workplace that is fun, inclusive, and supportive of career growth. Training and development programs are central to that promise, reinforcing Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine’s commitment to talent as much as to brokers.

Jennifer Lehman

Vice President, Personal Lines and Marine

Harriet Shaw

Head of Operations

Iain MacKinnon

Finance Director

Simon Williams

Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955

Jennifer Lehman is vice president of personal lines and marine at Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine. With over 20 years of insurance industry experience, she leads the growth and profitability of the personal insurance and marine portfolios. She oversees underwriting, pricing, and distribution, with a strong focus on customer experience and risk management. Lehman’s leadership is instrumental in building brand loyalty and positioning Premier as a trusted leader in specialty insurance.

Vice President, Personal Lines and Marine

Jennifer Lehman

Harriet Shaw has over 30 years of experience in the regulated financial services industry, focusing on credit risk operations in both unsecured and secured products. She has held various operational roles in mortgage servicing.

Head of Operations

Harriet Shaw

Iain MacKinnon has over 17 years of experience in a wide range of senior management roles in regulated financial services, including oversight of investment treasury, tax and pensions at a major international bank. Prior to his career in banking, he was an M&A tax partner at Deloitte.

Finance Director

Iain MacKinnon

Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.

Partner

Kimi Shah

Partner

Kimi Shah

Partner

Kimi Shah

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Medals

Construction

Cyber

Directors and officers

Environmental

High net worth

Marine

Non-profit

Brokers’ pick – Environmental liability

Non-profit

Medal

Overall service level

Broker communication, training and development

BDM support

Turnaround time – claims

Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance

Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability

Small business

Medal

Overall service level

Broker communication, training and development

BDM support

Turnaround time – claims

Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance

Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability

Small business

“We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible”

Brett Vincent, Vincent Young Lawyers

“Having four insurance designations, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with it, enables me to better counsel customers regarding the importance of having the appropriate insurance coverage”

Saray Uribe, CharSan Insurance & Consulting

employee benefits regional retail P&C specialty P&C underwriting direct-to-consumer programs

Underscoring the value proposition the firm offers, Vincent says, “Our clients get direct access to our partners. We are always available, and we pride ourselves on being highly responsive. We are lean and efficient. Our work is of the quality of larger law firms, without the price tag.” To operate optimally for clients, the firm engaged the founder of a major construction management company to be chairman. Under their guidance, Vincent Young has expanded its practice areas to include property, projects, commercial and insolvency law. Today, Vincent Young is advised by a chairman and two advisors, none of whom are lawyers, resulting in invaluable industry insight and client-side perspective. “The balance between technical legal skills and proactive solutions lies at the heart of our business and our success in legal matters,” says Vincent. “We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible.”

more than $1 million in funds over $2.3 million in combined monetary and in-kind donations through an annual World Food Derby initiative 2,320 volunteer hours to numerous deserving organizations, making a significant community impact

Alliant’s progress is set to continue, as underlined by Zimmer, who has confidence in the firm’s people to deliver continued excellence. “We believe in our business plan, and it has proven successful. We don’t feel the need to change that. Our core business plan will continue to drive the company forward, complemented by new opportunities that may arise in the future.”

Program business

Turnaround time – new business

Overall