Kevin J. Pledge, FSA 2004, FIA

President and CEO, Insight Decision Solutions, Markham, ON

Brief description of the type of work you currently do:

I manage a software company that develops analytical software for insurance companies.

Primary Area of Practice:

Life Insurance

Other Areas of Practice / Interests:

General Management, Financial Reporting, International Issues, Property & Casualty, Reinsurance, Risk Management, Smaller Insurance Company, Technology, Futurism, Health Benefits Systems, Investments, Life Insurance, Long Term Care, Managed Care, Marketing and Distribution, Non–Traditional

Professional Background:

Kevin is co–founder of Insight Decision Solutions, a software company that provides business intelligence software for insurance companies. His responsibilities include general management, integration of actuarial applications and development of new opportunities.

Prior to forming Insight, Kevin was the Head of Actuarial and Technical Services for The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), where he set up the UK Actuarial Department and managed other key cross–functional projects for the UK branch. He was then asked to transfer to the head office in Toronto, as Vice President Actuarial, where he took on the task of transforming the Corporate Actuarial Function. A fundamental process and system review brought about improvements in practices that had been established over many years.

Kevin has extensive management experience especially with regard to process improvement and has spoken at many actuarial meetings and is coauthor of "The Analysis of Insurance Earnings."

Volunteer Experience:

• Course 7 (Applied Modeling) Faculty from 1999 to 2006, including teaching the course every year that it ran.
• Technology Section Council from 2005 to 2008 (Section Chair 2007/8 year).
• Member of Marketing and Distribution Section Council 2007/8 (1 year term to replace someone who was unable to continue for full term).
• Served on Annual Meeting coordination committee for 2006(Technology Section) and 2008 (MaD Section).
• Moderated and presented at several meetings, regular contributor to section newsletters.
• Initiated SharePoint portal project to help coordinate section activities, currently used by the Board and the Technology and MaD sections.

Vision Statement:

The actuarial profession competes with other professions for leadership roles and in new markets. To do so we must be professional, relevant and current. We need to expand the scope of the actuarial profession/practice so that the employment base for actuaries can grow, and effectively attract more bright young people to the profession. This can be achieved through the effective execution of three existing initiatives.

Firstly, identifying opportunities for actuaries within the broader financial services market while expanding leadership roles within traditional markets.

Secondly, by leveraging the branding project to improve perception of the profession specifically in these markets.

Finally, by ensuring that actuaries continue to add value in existing roles and in new roles through the education process. The education process needs to be effective and efficient for the candidates and supported by an effective CPD program. The CPD program will play a critical role for professionalism and ongoing relevance. This must be implemented with care and planning, and supported by tracking tools and cost effective training options available to all members.