Province appoints new head of MPI

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This article was published 14/12/2017 (2323 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister has reached out to Hong Kong to find an Australian to head Manitoba Public Insurance.

Benjamin Graham will become the Crown corporation’s new president and chief executive officer on Feb. 1.

“Mr. Graham brings nearly 15 years of senior leadership to his new role as president and CEO of MPI, with particular expertise in risk management, energy, financial services and insurance companies internationally,” Pallister said in a news release Friday.

Graham will succeed current president and CEO Dan Guimond, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year. Graham’s most recent job is head of risk for QBE Insurance Asia Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong.

“Mr. Graham’s international experience will bring new perspectives to the organization and ensure the Crown corporation is delivering industry best-practice solutions within the public insurance context that we are so proud to offer to Manitobans,” Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen said in a prepared statement.

“I have no doubt the selection of Mr. Graham by the corporation’s board of directors will serve to strengthen and secure the long-term sustainability of the public insurance program in Manitoba.”

The province said Graham holds a master’s degree in risk management from Monash University in Australia and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of New South Wales. He also holds numerous professional affiliations, including memberships in the Institute of Risk Management in the Middle East and Australia.

Like all Crown corporations and government civil service departments, MPI was ordered by Pallister to slash 15 per cent of its management jobs after the Tories took office in 2016.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, which represents MPI staff, said Friday: “The MGEU congratulates the new president and CEO and welcomes him to Manitoba. MPI is a very valuable public service and we are lucky to have some of the most affordable auto insurance rates in the country. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with Mr. Graham in his new role and talk about how we can work together to ensure strong public auto insurance for Manitobans.”

NDP Crowns critic Tom Lindsey was similarly welcoming: “We congratulate Mr. Graham on his new position, and wish him well. Manitobans are relying on his leadership to deliver affordable publicly owned auto insurance through MPI, and we hope he can deliver.”

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca