BFL CANADA

BFL CANADA is a Canadian risk management, insurance brokerage and benefits consulting firm headquartered in Montreal. Founded on December 14, 1987 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, Joseph Paré and Tom Sleeper with the financial backing of British brokerage J. Besso and Co. Ltd., the firm has grown into one of the largest employee-owned brokerages in Canada. Its name derives from the initials of founder Barry F. Lorenzetti. The company provides commercial insurance brokerage solutions, risk advisory services, employee benefits consulting and global insurance programs for businesses, professionals, manufacturers, local governments, national and international organizations, and groups and associations. Its risk advisory practice focuses on total cost of risk (TCOR) design, risk analytics and strategic risk financing. Through its BFL Global Risk Services practice and its Local International Office Network (LION), BFL CANADA serves multinational clients with integrated risk management, insurance and employee benefits solutions. BFL CANADA is owned and managed by its own employees, a structure it secured in 1991 when it agreed to buy back the shares held by J. Besso and Co. Ltd. following that firm's acquisition by Jardine. The company has expanded across Canada through a combination of new office openings and acquisitions, including Classic Equine in 1996 and the establishment of TSW Management Services in 1995. As of 2024, BFL CANADA counts more than 1,500 professionals across twenty-seven offices in Canada, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Quebec City, Halifax, Winnipeg and Saskatoon. Barry F. Lorenzetti remains CEO, president of the board and founder. In 2023, Lisa Giannone was appointed president and chief operating officer. Regional executive vice-presidents include Frédérik Pelaez (East), Brian Parsons (Central) and Tom DeCoteau (West). The firm is active in philanthropy, supporting organizations such as Hockey Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society, and operates the Fondation Barry F. Lorenzetti.

BFL CANADA was founded on December 14, 1987 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, Joseph Paré and Tom Sleeper, with the financial backing of British brokerage J. Besso and Co. Ltd. The company was named after the initials of Barry F. Lorenzetti. Under the initial structure, Besso held 70% of the new company, while the three Canadian co-founders shared the remaining 30%. The first office was established at 1801 McGill College Avenue in downtown Montreal, in the same building as Lorenzetti's former employer and now competitor, Sedgwick. In the early years, BFL CANADA attracted key talent. Sylvie Forget joined on December 14, 1987. Ed Gathercole and four colleagues joined in December 1988, specializing in the film and entertainment sector in Canada. Frank Howden and his marine insurance team joined in 1989. In 1991, René St-Onge joined and established a team for the municipal sector. Bob Nicholls joined in 1994 in the Montreal office, and Daniel Binette left Dale Parizeau to join in 1997. In spring 1991, Jardine, an international broker, acquired J. Besso and Co. Ltd. On May 17, 1991, BFL CANADA reached an agreement to buy back the shares of J. Besso and Co. Ltd. over the following five years, ensuring true independence and 100% Canadian ownership. In 1994, Ken Walker was asked to establish a foothold for BFL CANADA in Mississauga, Ontario. In 1996, BFL CANADA acquired Classic Equine, a specialized insurance brokerage based in Toronto. Also in 1996, Bob Nicholls was given the interim position of Vice-President – Operations for the new Toronto office. In 1995, BFL CANADA created a subsidiary named TSW Management Services, led by Daniel Tousignant, to consolidate all BFL CANADA premiums with one of its insurers. This subsidiary was developed in response to a directive from the insurer's head office that threatened to reduce the number of brokers in its Quebec office. TSW Management Services now has more than 30 employees and 4 offices in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. In 1996, the BFL CANADA team of Jim Stirling, Bob Nicholls and Barry F. Lorenzetti established a business relationship with Hockey Canada. BFL CANADA expanded across the country: a Quebec City office opened in 1999, followed by a one-person operation in Halifax in March 2001 and an Ottawa office in 2003. In 2005, Penny Dyte was hired to establish BFL CANADA's operations in Alberta. As Vice-President – Operations, she was also appointed to BFL CANADA's National Operations Committee. Her first mandate was to open a new BFL CANADA office in Calgary. Well established in Western, Central and Eastern Canada, BFL CANADA now aims to increase its presence in the Maritime and Atlantic provinces. The "Lion of BFL CANADA" first appeared in the company's letterhead when J. Besso and Co. Ltd. owned 70% of the company at the start of operations. The letterhead featured a lion sitting on a globe. When Jardine acquired J. Besso and Co. Ltd. in 1991, BFL CANADA asked permission to continue using the same logo, which was refused. BFL CANADA therefore decided to keep the lion but changed its positioning, placing it in front of the globe rather than on top. This was the lion's first move, and BFL CANADA had it registered as a trademark by the company's lawyer, Stan Selinger. The BFL CANADA lion has evolved considerably over the past 30 years but still occupies a prominent place in the company's emblem. The Montreal head office moved to 2001 McGill College Avenue in 1998. Barry F. Lorenzetti, CEO, President of the Board and founder, appointed Lisa Giannone as President and Chief Operating Officer of BFL CANADA in 2023. In recent years, Frédérik Pelaez was appointed Executive Vice-President of the East Region, Brian Parsons Executive Vice-President of the Central Region and Tom DeCoteau Executive Vice-President of the West Region. BFL CANADA is a partner of various charitable organizations through its offices across Canada, including the Fondation Barry F. Lorenzetti, Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation, and the Canadian Cancer Society. As of 2024, the company has more than 1,500 professionals in twenty-seven offices across Canada.

• 2024

  Company counts more than 1,500 professionals across twenty-seven offices in Canada.

• 2023

  Lisa Giannone appointed President and Chief Operating Officer.

• 2005

  Penny Dyte hired to establish operations in Alberta; Calgary office opened.

• 2003

  Ottawa office opens.

• 2001

  Halifax operation opens in March.

• 1999

  Quebec City office opens.

• 1998

  Montreal head office moves to 2001 McGill College Avenue.

• 1996

  Acquisition of Classic Equine, a Toronto-based specialized insurance brokerage; business relationship established with Hockey Canada.

• 1995

  TSW Management Services subsidiary created, led by Daniel Tousignant.

• 1994

  Ken Walker establishes a foothold for BFL CANADA in Mississauga, Ontario.

• 1991

  Agreement reached on May 17 to buy back J. Besso and Co. Ltd. shares over five years, ensuring 100% Canadian ownership.

• 1987

  BFL CANADA founded on December 14 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, Joseph Paré and Tom Sleeper with backing from J. Besso and Co. Ltd.

Employee-owned, Canadian-rooted global insurance brokerage focused on customized risk management and total cost of risk reduction.

• Commercial insurance brokerage

  Customized insurance solutions for businesses, professionals, manufacturers, local governments, national and international organizations, and groups and associations.

• Risk Advisory Services

  Strategic risk advisory including risk analytics, total cost of risk (TCOR) design, and risk financing optimization.

• BFL Global Risk Services

  Multinational program design and deployment, integrated risk management, insurance and employee benefits solutions for global clients.

• Local International Office Network (LION)

  Network of key independent broker partners that are leaders in their respective countries.

• Employee benefits consulting

  Benefits consulting services for organizations.

• TSW Management Services

  Subsidiary consolidating premiums with insurers; over 30 employees and 4 offices in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

1. 1Commercial insurance solutions/risk management planning | BFL CANADAbflcanada.ca
2. 2International business insurance | Global Services | BFL CANADAbflcanada.ca
3. 3Global risk management advisors (business) | About BFL CANADAbflcanada.ca
4. 4Risk Advisory Services | BFL CANADAbflcanada.ca
5. 5BFL CANADA - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6BFL Canada - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org