Moving from west to east across the country, here are the changes taking place at Empire Life:

Western Canada: Ron Pugsley , BA, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., RHU, EPC , has joined Empire Life as regional vice-president, Western Canada. Mr. Pugsley is no stranger to this role, as he has been both regional vice-president, Western Canada, national accounts and an assistant vice-president, national accounts for one of Canada's largest insurers. Previous to that, Mr. Pugsley was vice-president, sales, Canada and The Bahamas, for Crown Life.  Ron is operating from Regina, Saskatchewan, where Empire Life is currently preparing office spaces. Sales directors in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan/Manitoba report to him directly.

British Columbia : Dan Swanlund , CFP, becomes executive account manager, wealth.  Gary Barker , CFP, CLU, r egional account manager, national accounts, is focusing his activities exclusively on the province of BC.  Jack Rekis , CMA, remains as sales director, BC and is now responsible for all individual lines of business in the national accounts, MGA and independent financial advisor (IFA) channels. Empire Life intends to add more dedicated resources, especially to support national accounts in British Columbia during the next months and years. Until those resources are in place, the existing account management team will support the national account channel in addition to their current duties.

Alberta :  Stan Pappenfus CLU, PRP, HIA, returns his focus exclusively to maximizing growth in Alberta, Canada’s wealthiest province at this point in time. As sales director, Alberta, Mr. Pappenfus is now responsible for national accounts and wealth, in addition to risk business. Empire Life plans to further enhance resources in Alberta to take advantage of the province's growth and wealth.  Reporting directly to Mr. Pappenfus will be risk and wealth regional account managers (RAMs), regional investment managers (RIMs), regional sales and marketing associates and national accounts RAMs (to be appointed) for Alberta.

Saskatchewan/Manitoba :  Steve Kook now takes on the role of sales director, Prairie Centre, for all individual lines within the national Accounts, MGA and IFA channels.  As with British Columbia and Alberta, Empire also plans to add dedicated resources to support National Accounts in Prairie Centre.

In South-western Ontario, Walter Kordiuk , CFP, is Executive Account Manager, Wealth, acknowledging the significant contribution he has made to relationship building and business development in this area. Doug Kennedy CFP, CLU, CHFC remains as sales director, and will have both the risk and wealth teams reporting to him.

In central Ontario, e ffective May 14, 2007, Ilana Garber is joining Empire as sales director, working out of the Victoria Park office.  Ilana used to work at Equitable Life where she has been a leading sales director for several years. John Wesley, CFP, CLU, CHFC , executive account manager, risk, and the wealth and risk account management teams will report to Ilana. Wayne Linke, CFP, CLU, s ales director, national accounts - Ontario, assumes responsibility for both the wealth and risk lines and all national account management teams in Ontario report to him.  Michael Sangster , PFP, is moving from Empire Life’s investment management division to become executive account manager, national accounts. He will be reporting to Wayne Linke. Mr. Sangster will continue his previous focus on institutional investment sales.

Quebec: Richard Charette is now assuming the role of sales director, wealth and risk. He will fill that position for a couple of years prior to retirement. To help facilitate Richard's move, Michel Desjardins , ASA, is now regional vice-president, Quebec, responsible for all individual lines in all channels.  Michel led our initial entry into the national accounts market and we will continue to tap his expertise and energy during the transition period.

Luc Panneton , RLU, continues in his role as sales director, responsible for both the wealth and risk sides of the business, working closely with the account management teams. Henri-Julien (HJ) Chartrand , RLU, becomes executive account manager, wealth, for Quebec, reporting to Richard Charette. Robert Denis , Pl. Fin., becomes Executive Account manager, national accounts for  Quebec, reporting directly to Michel Desjardins.

Atlantic: Sarah Daly, will continue to support all channels and individual lines of business out of our Halifax office as Sales Director. The newly-created position of regional vice-president, Atlantic, will remain unfilled for the foreseeable future as Sarah continues to build and grow the presence of Empire Life on the East Coast.