Steve Dobronyi to step down as CEO of Echelon, Serge Lavoie to be appointed at AGM

Steve Dobronyi, current CEO of Echelon Financial Holdings Inc., is scheduled to step down at the company’s upcoming Annual General Meeting, at which time Serge Lavoie will be appointed to the role.

Dobronyi (pictured left) has agreed to remain with the Echelon Financial Holdings until the AGM on May 5, notes a company statement issued Wednesday.

Rob Purves, chairman of the company’s board, extended his thanks to Dobronyi for his strong contribution. “Over his six-year tenure, he steadily grew the Canadian operations and restored profitability to target levels.He divested the unprofitable U.S. operations and other non-core businesses and led the acquisitions of ICPEI (Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island) and CUISA MGA (Credit Union Insurance Services Association),” Purves says.

Lavoie (pictured below right), who most recently served as president and CEO of Echelon Insurance and is a past director, was CEO of Jevco Insurance Company until 2012.

“Serge brings deep and proven experience in the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry to Echelon’s leadership. We look forward to working with him to utilize Echelon’s business platform and accelerate our growth plans in Canada,” Purves says.

“I’m excited to lead the company on a path of growth and profitability in the ensuing years,” he adds in the statement.

Founded in 1998, Echelon Insurance operates in the p&c insurance industry in Canada and Europe, primarily focused on providing non-standard automobile insurance and other niche and specialty insurance solutions.