P&C industry veteran joins Zurich Canada’s executive team

Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.’s Canadian branch has announced the appointment of Laura Doddington as executive vice president (EVP) of retail.

The appointment follows the reorganization of Zurich Canada’s business around two customer segments – commercial and retail – both led by EVPs, the insurer says in a press release June 1, when it announced the appointment.

“The retail segment encompasses programs and MGAs, personal lines, and smaller businesses,” Zurich Canada explains. “The new structure reflects CEO Paul Jackson’s vision to enable faster, local decision-making, invest in new segments, and to simplify how Zurich meets customers and broker partners in the market, particularly in segments requiring speed, tailored solutions, and stronger local relevance.”

Dane Hambrook, EVP of commercial, leads Zurich Canada’s commercial segment, including large property, liability, commercial motor (auto), and middle market and captives. He also coordinates specialty lines.

Jackson says Doddington “is exactly the kind of leader we need to drive our retail segment forward. She has deep experience building and transforming insurance businesses, with a strong track record of growth.”

Doddington joins Zurich from WTW, where she was managing director, head of personal and commercial lines for North America with WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business. She also has experience at other insurers, including Aviva Canada, Desjardins General Insurance Group and RSA, according to her LinkedIn profile.

“Based in Toronto, Doddington has more than 20 years of P&C experience across the U.K. and North American markets,” Zurich says in the release. “She is an accomplished P&L [profit and loss] leader who has held leadership positions across diverse areas of the business, including product management, pricing, marketing, and digital innovation.”

Doddington says she is pleased to join Zurich Canada as it enters its next chapter. “The ambition here is real, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to grow our retail business,” she says.

“Doddington’s appointment is part of Zurich Canada’s broader commitment to showing up as a unified and competitive carrier partner,” the insurer adds. “With strong talent and momentum now in place, Zurich Canada is focused on accelerating growth across both commercial and retail segments and strengthening its position as a leading carrier partner in Canada.”

Zurich Insurance Group is a multi-line insurer serving about 60 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories.

In Canada, Zurich’s business has been serving customers across commercial and retail segments for more than 100 years through more than 800 employees across the country. According to Canadian Underwriter’s 2025 Stats Guide, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. is Canada’s 16^th largest private P&C carrier by Total Insurance Revenue (TIV). In 2024, the company had more than $1.6 billion in TIV.

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Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.