David Firkins is promoted to assistant vice president (AVP), executive underwriter, fronting, at Liberty Mutual Canada. Based in Toronto, Firkins moves into the executive position after serving as a senior underwriter for fronting within the same organisation since March 2024. During his tenure as senior underwriter, he was a member of the alternative risk solutions team, where he specialised in captive fronting, managed a renewal portfolio, and worked to expand the firm’s business book. Firkins' career in the captive industry began at HUB International, where he served as a captive insurance analytics associate for more than three years. During his time at HUB, he was involved in the establishment of numerous captives across various domiciles, notably in Alberta following the introduction of the province’s captive legislation. Speaking in an ‘Emerging Talent’ interview with Captive Insurance Times in November 2024, Firkins reflects on the diversity of the sector: “I have had the pleasure of working with all types of organisations on their journey to forming and operating a captive insurance company. From mid-sized family-owned businesses to the largest organisations in the country, no captive lifecycle is the same.” He explains that his expertise has traditionally focused on the formation side of the business, with a heavy emphasis on feasibility and pre-feasibility analyses. As his career progressed, this work evolved to include handling renewals and devising expansion strategies through risk selection. On the underwriting side, Firkins works closely with broker partners and mutual clients to address self-insured risks, noting that some of the most rewarding experiences of his career have involved finding solutions for unique and challenging risks. Before entering the insurance sector, Firkins began his professional career at Global Affairs Canada, where he focused on data analytics and visualisation. He also held internship positions at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Firkins holds a postsecondary degree from the Ivey School of Business at Western University in London, Ontario.
