Wawanesa chief executive to retire, successor named

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company president and CEO Jeff Goy (pictured top right) will be retiring after a 35-year career with the insurer, including nearly 11 years as president and CEO.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Evan Johnston (pictured left), the company’s executive vice president of strategy and related businesses, will serve as the 10th president in Wawanesa’s 128-year history, the insurer said in a press release.

Wawanesa’s board of directors made the announcement Wednesday, saying Goy and Johnston will work together to complete the transition over the next four months.

“During his tenure as CEO, Jeff led Wawanesa through a decade of transformative growth and renewal, affirming the company’s reputation as Canada’s leading property & casualty mutual insurer while strategically positioning the company for future success,” Catherine Best, chairwoman of Wawanesa’s board of directors, said in the release.

“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Jeff for everything he’s accomplished during his distinguished career and wish him well on his retirement.”

Wawanesa is Canada’s seventh largest property and casualty insurer, with a 3.2% market share, according to Canadian Underwriter’s 2024 Stats Guide. It had more than $3.3 billion in total insurance revenue in 2023.

Johnston made reference to the leadership change in a LinkedIn post. “As the company’s 10th president & CEO, I will be succeeding Jeff Goy. It’s an exciting opportunity — but a very tough act to follow.

“After eight years working closely with Jeff on his executive team, I am honoured to lead Wawanesa into its next era as we build on our leadership position in a changing industry,” Johnston wrote.

“To start, I will be meeting with our stakeholders to talk about the future and, importantly, to do a lot of listening on how Wawanesa can continue, as Canada’s leading mutual insurer, to have a positive impact on the lives of Canadians.”

Best added Johnston “brings international experience as a business strategist built on an impressive legal and financial background. Born and raised in Manitoba, Evan is committed to building on Wawanesa’s unique culture as a mutual insurer while driving the company’s continued growth.”

Johnston said in the release the insurer’s focus “will be on winning — and growing — in all our markets across Canada.”

Feature image: Left to right: Evan Johnston, Wawanesa’s executive vice president, strategy & related businesses and Jeff Goy, president and CEO.