2024 Underwriters of the Year | Linda Kerel, Senior Personal Lines Underwriter, Travelers Canada

Linda Kerel’s insurance journey spans an impressive 44 years of building expertise in underwriting and developing solid broker relationships.

As Senior Personal Lines Underwriter with 21 years of tenure with Travelers Canada, Kerel recalls how she first got into underwriting. She began her insurance career in 1980 as a file clerk for the Canadian General Insurance Company. During her early days of hand-delivering paper files, she took a keen interest in underwriting and started working toward her CIP designation.

After earning her CIP, she advanced to a data entry position and then became an underwriter for Traders General before moving to Zurich Insurance, where she was promoted to supervisor.

Outside of work, Kerel enjoys time with her husband of 38 years and their two children, and she loves swimming and playing pickleball. Her love for animals has seen her adopt many pets over the years, and she also fosters dogs and volunteers with a ferret organization.

“Throughout my underwriting career, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with many great brokers and have developed long-lasting relationships along the way,” she says. “I’m truly grateful to be recognized by Acera Insurance,” a broker member of the Canadian Broker Network.

Q: What makes a great underwriter-broker working relationship?

“The foundation is trust. This is built over time by consistently being there for your brokers, trying to provide the right solutions for their needs, responding quickly to requests, and being transparent about statuses and decisions. Throughout my career I’ve experienced several hard markets, which have helped me to understand the personal insurance business in depth. I’ve always had a strong work ethic. For me, the goal is to always prioritize my workload and work on the more difficult tasks first thing in the day when my mind is fresh.”

Q: Why did you become an underwriter, and what do you love most about your role?

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I still love the variety the position offers and the always-changing market. There’s something different every day, and I’m always learning!”

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for underwriters in P&C currently, and one thing they can do to overcome it?

“Staying on top of all the latest developments in this ever-evolving market. For example, with high-theft vehicles, it’s helpful to know the industry landscape when writing these types of vehicles. Having that broad knowledge can help underwriters explain to brokers the why and the how behind our response to this situation.”

Q: Given the current talent shortage, what would you say to encourage people to join the industry?

“There are so many opportunities available in the insurance industry, making it a great choice for anyone starting their career or looking to make a change.”

Q: What’s one opportunity you think underwriters should focus more on in today’s marketplace?

“I highly recommend obtaining your CIP designation and considering other roles within your own company to diversify your knowledge and understanding of the industry. Obtaining my CIP designation certainly helped me advance my career.”

Q: How do you see technology, including AI, impacting the role of underwriters in the coming years?

“I can’t predict the future, but my sense is there will always be a need for human underwriters.”

The Canadian Broker Network Underwriter of the Year awards is a flagship program that CBN has been running on behalf of its members since 2017. The program is exclusive to CBN in partnership with Canadian Underwriter magazine. The categories allow for each of our member firms, at their option, to select one commercial lines underwriter winner as well as one personal lines underwriter winner from a primary market. The program evolved in 2021 to also allow for one commercial lines underwriter from an MGA in addition to the other two categories. The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to CBN members; writing business that satisfies clients’ needs while creating a win-win for the broker and the insurer; a positive, helpful attitude; and investing time to develop trusting relationships with brokers.

Full list of 2024 Underwriters of the Year Award