Headquarters:

105 Adelaide Street West, Suite 700, Toronto, ON

Year founded:

1862

Number of employees:

1,900

Phone:

1 855 620 6262

Email:

info@nbfc.com

Website:

careers.nbfc.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/northbridge-financial-corporation

Silvy Wright

President and Chief Executive Officer

Harold Weckworth

Senior Vice President, People and Culture

Craig Kozlowski

Chief Information and Technology Officer

Leadership

Silvy Wright has served as president and CEO of Northbridge Financial Corporation since May 2011. Prior to this role, she served as CEO of Markel Insurance. Under her leadership, four separate insurance companies were successfully brought together under one strong Northbridge operating group. Today, Northbridge Financial’s brands – Northbridge Insurance and Federated Insurance – leverage combined talent and capabilities, and successfully operate through distinct distribution channels.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Silvy Wright

Harold Weckworth is Northbridge Financial’s Senior Vice President of People & Culture. With over 25 years of experience, he is passionate about creating exceptional employee experiences to build culture and achieve success. Harold joined Northbridge in 2005, and has since contributed to various initiatives to engage, motivate, and retain employees. He stepped into his current role in 2022, and his priority is keeping Northbridge’s special culture alive by prioritizing employees, encouraging collaboration, and driving positive change. Harold has his Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation, his Bachelor of Administration Studies from York University, and also holds a Diploma in Human Resources from Algonquin College.

Senior Vice President, People and Culture

Harold Weckworth

Craig Kozlowski leads Western’s national technology team, overseeing AI innovation, cybersecurity, IT service delivery, and more. With over 30 years of technology leadership in both private and public sectors, he joined Western in 2018. Kozlowski is dedicated to advancing Western’s strategic plan and delivering a modern customer and user experience, consistently guiding teams to operational success across diverse industries.

Chief Information and Technology Officer

Craig Kozlowski

Jonathan Hoey

Chief Underwriting Officer

Jonathan Hoey, chief underwriting officer, brings over 20 years of insurance leadership to Western Financial Group. He leads underwriting and claims strategy, optimizing carrier partnerships and empowering high-performing teams. Hoey is recognized for his collaborative, integrity-driven leadership and has expanded Western’s delegated authority and specialty program capabilities, driving strategic growth and strengthening the company’s competitive edge across Canada.

Chief Underwriting Officer

Jonathan Hoey

Nicky Skinner

Business Development Manager

Nicky Skinner, based in Christchurch, was honoured as NZ Adviser’s BDM of the Year. With over 20 years of banking experience – including roles as bank manager, private banker and senior lender – she brings deep expertise to her work. Skinner supports mortgage advisers with product knowledge and deal presentation skills, focusing on building strong, trusted relationships. Her collaborative approach and dedication make her a valued resource, consistently praised for her guidance and support in helping advisers achieve outstanding client outcomes.

Business Development Manager

Nicky Skinner

Sarah Radonich

Third Party Support Manager

Steph Leeson

Business Development Manager

Margaret Leau-Sulusi

Business Development Manager

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Sarah Radonich is a third party support manager (relief BDM) at Westpac, building strong relationships with mortgage advisers across New Zealand. With 15 years of banking experience, she supports a wide range of regions and communities, working alongside a team of experienced BDMs. Radonich is known for her responsiveness, collaboration and focus on delivering efficient, results-driven experiences for advisers and their clients, always striving for the best possible outcomes.

Third Party Support Manager

Sarah Radonich

Steph Leeson immigrated from the UK 14 years ago and began her Westpac career as a specialist lender. Now a business development manager, she supports mortgage advisers across Auckland and Northland, offering expert guidance and support. Leeson is highly regarded for her lending knowledge, responsiveness and collaborative approach. Her dedication was recognised nationally as a finalist for the 2025 NZ Adviser BDM of the Year award, reflecting her impact within the third party channel.

Business Development Manager

Steph Leeson

Margaret Leau-Sulusi brings over 20 years of banking experience to her role as business development manager, having started with Westpac in 2005. Her background includes lending support, senior lending roles and branch management. Leau-Sulusi partners closely with mortgage advisers, providing product expertise and strategic guidance to drive strong client outcomes. Known for her collaborative style and responsiveness, she is passionate about building trusted relationships and delivering customer-focused results.

Business Development Manager

Margaret Leau-Sulusi

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

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Northbridge Financial Corporation

SPECIAL REPORT

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Brokers’ Pick

Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance

Turnaround time – claims

BDM support

Broker communication, training and development

Overall service level

BDM support

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

“We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly”

Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand

“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals”

Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand

At Northbridge Financial Corporation (NBFC), 97 percent of employees say working there is a positive experience. Insurance Business Canada named the company a Top Insurance Employer for 2025. That consistency over seven years reflects a workplace built on purpose, belonging, and care. The company’s people-first philosophy runs through everything it does, from customer service to leadership development. Northbridge’s culture rests on three guiding principles. It is a people-first company. It succeeds as a team. And it cares to make a difference. Every employee is encouraged to bring their full self to work, contribute meaningfully, and collaborate in ways that create lasting value. Leadership reinforces that commitment every day. Harold Weckworth, Senior Vice President, People and Culture, says, “We know that great leadership, including a willingness to connect and be open, starts at the top.” That openness includes a program where employees can sign up for casual conversations with President and CEO Silvy Wright. These one-on-one conversations build trust and give employees a direct route to leadership. As a leading Canadian commercial insurer with a reputation built on partnership and reliability, Northbridge’s service approach focuses on responsiveness and accountability. Ninety-two percent of the time, claims receive adjuster contact within three business hours, which helps customers move quickly and with confidence. The company’s Net Promoter Score is 66, above the industry benchmark of 51, and that gap reflects timely response and follow-through. Northbridge’s success is tied to how it invests in its people. Its compensation model combines competitive pay, performance-based rewards, and regular market reviews that recognize both corporate and individual results. The launch of NBFC University in 2025 marked an important step forward in employee development. The program offers in-person and online courses across a wide range of disciplines, from leadership and mentoring to underwriting and rotation opportunities. Employees have clear pathways to learn, grow, and advance their careers. Northbridge plans to expand NBFC University with new faculties and more online courses to support continuous learning across all stages of career growth. Diversity and inclusion are integral to the company’s identity. Northbridge engages employees through panels, educational events, and celebrations connected to initiatives such as Women’s History Month and Black History Month. It also conducts an annual DEI survey and collects voluntary demographic data to guide future programs and strengthen equity within policies and practices. Employee resource groups provide further visibility and support across the organization. Retention figures confirm the strength of its culture. The voluntary turnover rate stands at 6.6 percent, with average tenure reaching nine years, well above the industry norm. Its Inclusion Index climbed from 79 percent in 2021 to 87 percent in 2024, showing continuous progress in engagement and belonging. Northbridge runs a Workplace Pulse Survey twice a year to help track and respond to employee feedback. In addition, its employee Net Promoter Score has climbed from 74 to 85 percent, showing how listening and taking action help build lasting engagement. The same proactive mindset that defines its customer relationships also drives how it supports employees. That philosophy extends to its people through an expanded suite of well-being programs, including virtual healthcare, digital pharmacy access, mental health supports, and family consultations.

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”

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