MSA Research announces leadership changes

Long-time CEO of MSA Research Joel Baker will transition into the role of vice chairman as president Nevina Kishun steps into the role of chief executive officer, the insurance industry research firm announced earlier this week.

Also joining the executive team as vice president is Sarah Fong, a seasoned economist and policy expert with extensive experience in government and regulatory affairs, MSA says in a press release.  

Baker, founder and CEO of the independent firm that provides financial analytics and insights for the insurance industry, will shift into the role of vice chairman.

“Joel’s visionary leadership since founding MSA in 2003 has positioned the firm as a cornerstone of the Canadian insurance landscape,” MSA says in the release. “In his new role, Joel will continue to provide strategic guidance and industry thought leadership.”

Baker tells Canadian Underwriter he looks forward to continuing to support Kishun and the MSA team in an advisory role.

“My main focus now is to work on Northwind Professional Institute,” Baker says, referring to the company he acquired in 2014 that runs senior invitational forums for a variety of sectors. “My other focus is to continue developing business for The Haliburton Post House resort and working on my new initiative Risk Capital Solutions, providing advisory services and connecting selected fintechs/insurtechs with financial institutions.”

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President to CEO

Previously president of MSA, Kishun steps into the role of CEO.

“Nevina brings a dynamic blend of strategic acumen and deep industry experience, having played a pivotal role in MSA’s integration into the Valani Global family of companies,” the release says. “Her leadership will focus on innovation, client engagement, and expanding MSA’s impact.”

Kishun tells CU she will focus on five main areas. One will be expanding data capabilities.

“We recognize that IFRS 17 has created gaps in key data points that were previously critical to our subscribers such as undiscounted claims by line of business, commissions by line of business, and loss ratios,” Kishun says. “MSA Research is actively working with industry partners to identify and implement solutions that restore access to these essential metrics.”

Another focus will be on innovation and industry challenge. The research firm continues to evolve benchmarking tools to meet the industry’s changing needs. For example, in response to IFRS 17, MSA introduced new features such as the Sources of Profit and Roll Forward dashboards to enhance data analysis and interpretation.

“We’ve also updated all of our P&C [key performance indicators] to align with those recommended by the Insurance Bureau of Canada,” Kishun says. “Ongoing collaboration with our subscribers ensures the platform remains responsive and relevant.”

The other areas of focus relate to data-driven insights for the insurance ecosystem, thought leadership and community engagement (such as through its flagship conferences, the National Insurance Conference of Canada, CatIQ Connect and invitational forums), and supporting executive decision-making.

“As CEO, I am excited to continue working closely with our partners to ensure MSA Research remains a trusted source of insight and collaboration,” Kishun says.

Deep industry insights

Fong joins the executive team, having held prior senior roles with Travelers Canada and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

“Her collaborative approach and deep industry insights earned her recognition as a trusted voice in the insurance industry,” the release says. “She played a key role in aligning senior executives to establish positions with government officials on complex regulatory issues facing the industry, such as regulatory capital, IFRS 17 accounting and tax policy and non-financial risk guidance.”

Fong also played an active role in global forums representing the Canadian P&C industry on issues such as reinsurance and the OECD BEPS (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s base erosion and profit sharing) initiatives on global minimum tax.

“Most recently, she delivered impactful positions to government on key auto insurance industry matters including fraud and auto insurance reforms,” MSA says. “Her appointment reflects MSA’s commitment to partnering with key stakeholders to address the industry’s evolving needs through data-driven decision-making.

MSA Research chairman Nazir Valani says, “Joel’s continued involvement ensures we retain our founding vision which will be complemented by Nevina and Sarah’s expertise to propel MSA forward.”

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.