The Unica story

Effective January 1, 2026, following final regulatory approval of the merger between Beneva and Gore Mutual, Andy Taylor assumed the role of Executive Vice President and Leader, P&C Ontario and West, Beneva. In this capacity, Andy has overall accountability for Gore Mutual and Unica as the organizations begin their integration journey.

Andy previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gore Mutual from 2020 to 2025, following eight years as Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years in the insurance industry, Andy combines strong financial expertise with proven leadership. At Gore, he has led the successful transformation of Canada’s oldest mutual insurance company with the vision of creating a purpose-driven, digitally led, national insurer.

Guy Lecours is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry.

A Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Guy Lecours has held various senior management positions at major companies mainly in Quebec, but also elsewhere in Canada.

He sits on several boards of directors.

Thanks to his numerous achievements in the insurance field, his strategic vision and his unifying style, Guy Lecours will contribute to the development and innovation of our brokerage activities in Quebec and Ontario.

Monica Celisano is the Regional Vice-President of Commercial Insurance accountable for all aspects of the Commercial lines division. In this capacity, Monica strategically collaborates with Claims, Business Development, Broker Financial Solutions and all other pertinent lines of business at Unica.

Monica has over 25 years of insurance experience and has held leadership roles in both Personal and Commercial lines, resulting in a comprehensive background in technical underwriting and a natural leadership style. Monica is results-oriented with a strong focus on customer experience and Broker relationships.

As a graduate of International Business, Monica holds a CRM designation and is a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional.

A graduate of Queen’s University, Honours Bachelor of Commerce program, Tanya brings to the role a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, having served in a number of senior management positions on the carrier side for more than 20 years. Tanya has dedicated her career to delivering service excellence and innovation, and has honed her skills in transformational leadership, operational efficiency, and profitable growth strategy. Much of her efforts have been focused on developing her technical skills in high-net-worth properties, recreational marine risks, valuable articles, and all things geared toward the VIP customer.

Tanya is excited about Unica’s niche VIP strategy and is looking forward to playing a key role in enhancing Unica’s LIVEasy product suite while expanding its offering of best-in-class coverages and benefits to a larger percentage of your clients.

Chris’ passion is to continually push the expectations and achievements Unica’s Brokers and clients have come to rely on from the organization.

Since starting his career in 1991, Chris has held various frontline, management and senior leadership positions in both the broker and insurer arenas, including several years with a large international brokerage. After joining Unica in 2008, Chris worked with his peers and the company’s Broker Network to champion the strategy of creating a unique niche insurer with a focus on specific commercial segments and VIP personal lines.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

With over 30 years of insurance claims experience including Chartered Insurance Professional and Certified Risk Manager designations, Laurence Wymant is a recognized expert in the field. 

Laurence holds “Triple Master” certifications in Fire & Smoke, Water, and Textiles restoration from IICRC and is a Fire Loss Specialist certified by the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). Laurence actively contributes to ANSI/IICRC restoration standards development, serving as Vice-Chair for S320 and participating in committees for upcoming S700 and S760 standards. 

He is also involved in RIA’s Education Committee as an author and technical editor of the organization’s course materials and sits on the CICMA Arbitration panel resolving disputes among insurers. 

For over a decade, Laurence has passionately supported charities for seriously ill children, notably raising $421,000 while serving as a main committee member for the Starlight Insurance Campaign.

Cristine is passionate about fostering exceptional employee experiences and building high-performance teams. A seasoned HR executive with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, Cristine leads the HR and Shared Services team at Unica with a dedication to cultivating strong leaders, engaged employees and building a culture-first atmosphere that is diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Cristine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and has earned her Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation.

Mark began his career in 1992 with a boutique insurance defence firm in downtown Toronto. He transitioned to in-house counsel in 1999.

Mark works closely with the Unica Claims and Underwriting departments to provide effective legal services. Mark has argued cases before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Insurance Commission, Financial Services Commission of Ontario and the Workers Compensation Board.

Mark is a past Vice-Chair of the Ontario Bar Association Insurance Law Section and obtained his LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School after graduating from the University of Toronto.