Optimum continues succession process
The Optimum Group’s board of directors has made a number of changes to the executive management of the group, as part of the management team’s succession planning process, which began in 2009.
Anabelle Blondeau has been appointed as the company's new president and chief operating officer (COO), and Jean-Claude Pagé as vice-chairman of the board and chief executive officer (CEO).
Over the past 23 years, Blondeau has helmed important development and management positions in Canada, in the US, and in France for Optimum.
Blondeau is president and CEO of the casualty and property insurance sector in Canada and manages the group’s operations in France. Before this appointment, she was executive vice-president and COO, treasurer at Optimum. She is also a board member of all of the organisation's subsidiaries.
Pagé has worked as Optimum’s president and COO from 1995 to 2012, and as president since April 2013. In October 2011, Pagé once again took over management of life insurance and reinsurance holding Optimum Re and, since 2012, has helmed this division as president, a position he will continue to hold as part of the new structure.
On April 30, Optimum published its 2013 results: return on equity (ROE) totalled 12.7 percent. For shareholders, the return was 16 percent, including dividends paid during the year.
"These excellent results reflect the Group's financial strength and sustained growth, despite the low interest rate environment that has prevailed for the past few years, said Blondeau.
“Our company's stability and steady growth are driven by our stringent risk management approach, as well as the corporate values that have been an integral part of our culture for the past 45 years."
