Billyard Insurance Group names new chief operating officer

Billyard Insurance Group (BIG) has announced the appointment of Cody Douma as its new chief operating officer.

Douma first began his insurance career in sales, then later joined Pembridge Insurance as a business development agent. In that role, he developed relationships with the company’s broker distribution channel and also completed his CRM designation. That experience was crucial to his appointment at BIG, when he joined the brokerage six years ago as director of business development. It was after three years that Douma would be promoted to the role of vice president, his most recent role within the firm.

BIG has lauded Douma for being a “vital part” of its growth. Douma helped the company identify and secure partnerships with top insurance brokers in the industry, and it was his recruitment strategies that helped drive BIG’s growth in Ontario and the rest of Canada, it said. It was under Douma’s leadership that BIG was able to grow to over 900 employees in six years.

The brokerage’s national expansion into three new provinces in 2021 was also credited as being under Douma’s leadership. The vice president has also managed the opening of 22 new branch locations in the past two years, and developed a team of leading insurance professionals to oversee the operations, BIG said.

“Cody’s appointment as COO marks an exciting new chapter for Billyard Insurance Group, as the company continues to grow and innovate under the leadership of CEO Stephen Billyard and his team,” the company said in a statement. “With Cody’s extensive experience in the insurance industry and his track record of success at BIG, the company is well-positioned for continued growth and expansion in the years to come.”

Earlier this year, BIG formed a partnership with Hunter Insurance Inc., dba My Hunter. The brokerage is coordinating with BIG Mississauga East managing partner Irfan Shafqat to operate My Hunter.