2024 Underwriters of the Year | Chris Sheehan, Commercial Auto Field Underwriter, Gore Mutual Insurance Company

Chris Sheehan’s insurance journey began 20 years ago with an assistant commercial underwriting role. A Mohawk College graduate with a CIP designation, Sheehan has seen his career evolve through various commercial underwriting roles. He joined Gore Mutual Insurance Company in 2021 as a Senior Commercial Auto Underwriter and moved into his current role a year ago.

Outside of work, Sheehan prioritizes time with family and friends, and enjoys diverse hobbies that provide avenues for personal growth and relaxation, including jiujitsu, auto racing, and travelling.

Sheehan says he is “humbled and deeply honoured” to be recognized by KASE Insurance, a broker member of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN).

“KASE embodies the commitment to professionalism, exceptional interpersonal skills, and profound industry knowledge that are the hallmarks of CBN members. I consider myself fortunate to collaborate with them and experience firsthand a genuine and mutually beneficial broker-underwriter partnership.”

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

“One that thrives on trust and open communication — whether discussing quotes or tackling challenges together. Being able to pick up the phone and have honest conversations is crucial, as is the mutual understanding that you are working toward common goals. It’s about fostering a dynamic environment where mutual support leads to collective success. Throughout my career, particularly in recent challenging economic conditions, maintaining trust and credibility with broker partners has been crucial in finding the best solution for all parties.”

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

“I became an underwriter due to a recommendation from my mother, who also worked in the industry. Initially uncertain about my career path, I was offered valuable real-work experience through my first contract position in insurance. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the variety of challenges and the great people I get to work with every day. What I love most about this industry is its constant evolution. Each day brings new challenges and learning opportunities, which keep the work exciting and fulfilling. The industry’s dynamic nature aligns with my desire to continuously learn and grow. I feel fortunate to work at Gore Mutual, a company that shares my values of community involvement and equal opportunities.” 

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

“High turnover is a significant challenge for underwriters. It disrupts team stability and service consistency, draining the institutional knowledge needed for accurate risk assessment. Consistently recruiting and training new staff strains resources and impacts efficiency and customer service quality. Creating a supportive workplace environment is crucial. Investing in career development opportunities, mentorship programs, and competitive compensation helps nurture talent and expertise. Ultimately, minimizing turnover allows insurers to maintain service continuity, build client trust, and effectively navigate the complexities of the insurance industry.”

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

“The insurance industry offers diverse career opportunities and chances for personal growth, making it both an engaging and fulfilling career choice. The industry is also crucial to the economy, providing stability and support in evolving global markets and risks.”

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

“Underwriters should prioritize enhancing their people skills. Despite advancing technology that has streamlined processes, building strong relationships with brokers remains critical to success. Improving interpersonal skills helps underwriters communicate effectively with brokers, build loyalty, better understand client needs and market trends, and negotiate terms together.”

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

“These advancements will enable faster information access, smoother tasks, and effective virtual meetings. But technology can’t replace the human side of building relationships. As AI takes on routine tasks, the value of interpersonal skills and relationship building in underwriting will grow and remain crucial to success.”

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