Winner: The Allianz Global Assistance Award for Digital Innovation in a Brokerage

Billyard Insurance Group

Stephen Billyard

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Stephen’s innovative and strategic approach has been the driving force behind BIG’s remarkable growth and success. Under his leadership, the company has experienced significant expansion, embraced cutting-edge technological innovations, and fostered a culture of excellence. BIG has also been recognized as a top insurance brokerage and employer, earning numerous accolades for growth and digital innovation. In 2021, Stephen was recognized as CEO of the Year by Insurance Business Canada. He was also included in Insurance Business’ Global 100 list in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Stephen Billyard

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Billyard Insurance Group: Redefining the insurance brokerage experience Based in Welland, Ontario, Billyard Insurance Group (BIG) has become one of Canada's most innovative and rapidly expanding brokerages. Founded as a family business in 1991, BIG has evolved significantly over the years and is now honoured to serve clients nationwide. Today, the brokerage has over 80 branches and employs more than 1,200 professionals in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Partnering with 30+ leading insurance providers, BIG offers a wide array of insurance products, including auto, home, life, travel, and commercial coverage. Building on its strong foundation, BIG has embraced innovation to redefine the insurance experience for clients and brokers alike. At the heart of BIG’s underwriting success is its focus on delivering value to clients and brokers by combining advanced technology with exceptional service. Guided by their corporate mission to lead the digital insurance revolution, BIG has invested in cutting-edge tools to simplify processes for brokers while ensuring clients receive fast, seamless, and personalized solutions. Its proprietary platform, Precision, represents a significant innovation that is redefining the standard for underwriting excellence. Powered by generative AI and robotic process automation (RPA), Precision enhances the client experience by reducing delays, improving the accuracy of policy applications, and ensuring a hassle-free journey from quote to coverage. By analyzing and validating extensive data in real-time, Precision eliminates common submission errors, giving clients peace of mind that their policies are both accurate and reliable. For brokers, the platform automates time-consuming tasks, enabling them to focus on building relationships and offering tailored advice to clients. This not only boosts broker productivity but also empowers them to grow their business while providing exceptional service. BIG’s technological advancements have garnered significant industry recognition. The development of Precision earned BIG the prestigious Award for Digital Innovation in a Brokerage at the 2024 Insurance Business Canada Awards and a finalist position for the InsurTech Award at the 2024 IBAO Awards of Excellence. These honours add to a growing list of accolades, including being named a Fast Brokerage by Insurance Business Canada from 2022–2024 and appearing on The Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies list from 2020–2024. While innovation drives BIG’s growth, its true strength lies in empowering brokers and creating client-centric solutions. By equipping brokers with advanced tools like Precision and offering robust training and support, BIG fosters a workplace culture that values innovation, career development, and excellence. This approach enables brokers to provide clients with expert guidance, personalized policies, and a level of service that builds long-term trust. With its blend of customer-focused innovation, a people-first approach, and a clear vision for the future, Billyard Insurance Group is setting a new standard for what an insurance brokerage can achieve—both for its clients and its brokers. 

Cody Douma

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

With extensive experience in sales, business development, and management, Cody has been a key driver of the brokerage’s national expansion. Cody joined BIG as Director of Business Development in 2017 where he was then promoted to Vice President in 2019 before being appointed COO in 2023. Under his direction, BIG has grown to over 1,200 employees and more than 80 branches across Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. This impressive growth has helped BIG secure recognition as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies and solidify its position as a leading brokerage.

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Cody Douma

Daniel Ignoto

Chief Insurance Officer (CIO)

With over two decades of expertise in business strategy, underwriting, and organizational development, Daniel leverages his experience to align BIG's Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Life & Financial divisions with a focus on innovation, excellence, and industry leadership. Prior to joining BIG in 2024, Daniel served as Senior Vice President of Hagerty’s Insurance Partners Group, where he led growth initiatives and managed a $167M USD portfolio. He also held leadership roles at Aviva Canada, including Vice President of Specialty Personal Insurance, overseeing a $1.2B portfolio serving 600,000 clients.

Chief Insurance Officer (CIO)

Daniel Ignoto

Stuart Murray has over 21 years of experience in the Australian financial services industry, specialising in credit assessment and mortgage underwriting. Prior to joining Brighten, Stuart was Head of Lending Australia and Responsible Manager at Resimac, where he was responsible for management of all aspects of Resimac’s Australian underwriting team. Prior to that, Stuart worked in mortgage credit assessment at St.George Bank and Bluestone Mortgages.

Head of Credit

Stuart Murray

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