Anne-Marie Deschênes, CIP, CRM, AIB

Marketer, Aon Risk Solutions, Montreal, QC

Those who know Anne-Marie describe her as full of energy and talk about her contagious positive attitude. She has a natural ability to motivate those around her, whether in her job, at school, or while doing volunteer work. In the eight years she has been in the industry, she has proven herself as a dedicated employee, moving up quickly and earning the respect of her peers and brokers. She is also heavily involved in various charities, and is not afraid to go the distance for them. “Anne-Marie is a woman of conviction,” writes one of her supporters. “She has exceptional leadership qualities that allow her to be confident, both in professional and social settings.”

Anne-Marie completed her college diploma in general insurance and financial services and then pursued her designations, including Chartered Insurance Professional (PAA), Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and Associate Insurance Broker (AIB). She is passionate about lifelong learning and being able to apply new skills to her work and is currently working towards her FPAA and FCRM designations.

Anne-Marie started her career in the industry at a small brokerage firm, managing new business. Enjoying her experience but interested in working for a bigger employer, she joined Aon in 2007 as an assistant manager, small to medium-sized companies accounts/new business development in the company’s business insurance department. Since then, she has been promoted to the role of marketer, medium to large-sized companies.

At work she has been involved in many projects that she is trusted to complete to the highest standard, applying a combination of professionalism, innovation, intelligence, and foresight to everything she does. She has been involved with the implementation of an internal training program, is asked to audit complex cases, and has instituted a paperless environment. She is always willing and able to get involved and has a tendency to infect her team members with her good humour.

Anne-Marie is at ease speaking in public and has been asked to participate on a number of occasions on panels and at events for both the industry and in several educational intuitions. She is also very good at meeting new people and has developed many solid professional contacts over the years, a skill that has been very useful in her work both professionally and in the community.

Her passion and work ethic translate directly to her volunteer efforts. She dedicates her time to a number of associations, including L'Association de la relève en assurance du Québec (LARAQ), the Coalition pour la promotion des carrières en assurance de dommages, the Institute d’assurance de dommages du Québec (IADQ), and most recently, the Insurance Institute of Canada as an incoming member of the CIP Society National Council. A great part of her time is spent promoting careers in the general insurance industry, and her natural ability to connect with people makes her a great representative.

Anne-Marie is also personally invested in a number of charities. Most notably, in 2011, she helped raise over $3,400 in one week for Leucan, an organization that assists Québec families of children sick with cancer. Unwavering in her commitment, she shaved her head for the cause. She has also been involved in fundraising campaigns for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, the United Way Campaign of Greater Montréal and Soutien-O-sinistréS.

It gives the CIP Society immense pleasure to recognize Anne-Marie as an Emerging Leader in 2013.