This story was first published in the Globe and Mail Report on Business Magazine on April 25, 2025.
Nav Dhillon, Chief Financial Officer, Aviva Canada
Last summer marked a record for Canada, but not the good kind: A season of catastrophic floods, fires and hailstorms resulted in insured losses of more than $7 billion—and a ton of corresponding claims for Aviva. Claims team leader Dhillon could have pinched pennies; instead, he got proactive, partnering with auto shops in Ontario and Alberta to remodel Aviva’s claims strategy, and make cheques easier and faster to obtain. If that doesn’t sound like any insurance company you’ve dealt with before, well, that’s kind of the point. “I see our job as helping people get back on their feet as soon as possible,” says Dhillon, who completed more than $250 million in acquisitions to help fund the good-faith endeavour. While other policy providers are reducing coverage for increasingly common events—flooded basements, sewer backups—Aviva is instead being proactive to accommodate inevitable climate change. “I’m looking forward five, 10, 20 years, and thinking about how to ensure Canadians are prepared.” - Rosemary Counter
