MPI CEO taking job with private sector

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This article was published 13/07/2020 (1915 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Public Insurance chief executive officer Ben Graham is cutting his time in the driver’s seat short to take up a new position in the private sector.

Since being named president and chief executive officer of the Crown-corporation in February 2018, Graham has endeavored to modernize the auto insurer, the results of which include a pending 10.5 per cent general rate decrease, expected to come into effect next April.

Graham’s last day on the job will be Sept. 30, at which time he’ll take over as chief executive officer at Manitoba Blue Cross.

“It was not an easy decision to leave in the early stages of implementing this multi-year strategy. However, we have achieved a lot over the last (two and a half) years,” Graham said in an email response to questions.

He was not available for a phone interview Monday afternoon.

“Success is about the results achieved not tenure. The opportunity to work for a great brand like Blue Cross was difficult to pass by,” Graham said.

The Australian expat came to Manitoba from QBE Insurance Asia Pacific, where he was head of risk for the Hong Kong based firm, and took over as president of MPI from Dan Guimond, who retired after 28 years with the corporation.

According to public compensation disclosure reports, Graham made $358,279 last year.

“My decision to leave MPI is to pursue an opportunity in the private sector where my background and experience are best aligned,” Graham said.

Under Graham’s watch, MPI met a government directive to add more cash to its stabilization reserve, and in mid-May, he announced changes to the basic insurance products, raising the basic Autopac deductible from $500 to $750 effective April 2021.

In the corporation’s latest general rate application, the insurer is asking the Public Utilities Board to approve an historic rate decrease which Graham attributed to enhanced fraud management, efficiencies and smart capital management in line with best industry practices.

He’s also pushed for insurance products to be available for purchase online, leading to a drawn-out dispute with the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba, which went into a government directed conciliation process last year. A final report on the process has not yet been released.

Given the changes at the corporation, Graham said he recognizes there will be speculation surrounding his resignation.

“As stated before this is not about running away from something but more the right opportunity being offered to me,” he said. “I feel that with the support of my board and team, we have put many great things in place for the next CEO to hit the ground running and continue with this success.”

Minister of Crown Services Jeff Wharton said he’s pleased with the way the corporation has been moving under Graham’s leadership and expects MPI will stay the course.

“The board, and the administration and Ben, again under his leadership, are quite qualified to run the corporation and it’s evident in the accomplishments that they’ve seen over the last couple of years,” Wharton said. “We’re excited about the direction.”

Opposition NDP MLA Adrien Sala urged the province to pick a replacement for Graham who is committed to low insurance rates and keeping MPI public.

“It is vital that MPI’s leadership recognize and appreciate that the needs of Manitoba ratepayers must be ahead of insurance brokers, the expertise and rulings of the Public Utilities Board should be respected, and that any government interference which puts Manitobans’ insurance rates at risk should be resisted,” Sala said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca