Celebrating Axis’s 2025 Award Winners: Leadership, Impact, and Excellence

The insurance market is moving quickly, and the brokers who bring clarity to challenging risks are leading the way. Complexity is increasing, exposures are evolving, and clients expect transparency, not jargon. This year’s award recognitions reinforce what we believe at Axis: leadership is about cutting through the noise and giving clients the tools they need to act with confidence.

Axis was recognized across multiple categories at the tenth annual Insurance Business Canada (IBC) Awards, reflecting the strength and precision our team brings to a complex market. Maureen Crockett, National Senior Vice President of Aviation and Aerospace, was awarded Broker of the Year for the Alberta and British Columbia region, a testament to her 40-year insurance career and leadership in aviation and aerospace risk. James Clay, Executive Vice President of Commercial Insurance, was named to the inaugural IBC Hot List 2025 for his impact on the commercial insurance sector. These achievements build on Axis winning Big Brokerage of the Year in 2024 and reinforce the momentum behind our national team.

Maureen Crockett: Broker of the Year (AB + BC Region)

Maureen Crockett’s win is a defining moment for Axis and for aviation insurance in Canada. With more than four decades in the industry, she has built a career grounded in practical expertise, clear communication and unwavering client advocacy. Maureen has earned a level of loyalty and respect from her clients that is virtually unmatched in the Aviation sector. What sets Maureen apart is her integrity, technical mastery, and her ability to build relationships that last decades.
Today, as Senior Vice President and National Practice Group Leader for Aviation and Aerospace, she leads an over thirty-person team, establishing Axis as Canada’s largest independent aviation broker.

Learn More About Maureen Crockett

Recognizing Axis 2025 IBC Award Finalists

We’re proud to share that Axis and several of our team members were named finalists in this year’s IBC Awards. These achievements reflect our company core values of client focus, teamwork, integrity, ownership, innovation, and expertise, while also displaying the continued strength of our national platform.

James Clay Named on the IBC Hot List 2025

IBC’s Hot List highlights leaders who are driving measurable, positive change in the industry. The list recognizes professionals who influence the market, build strong teams and deliver practical solutions in an increasingly complex risk environment. We are proud to see James Clay, Executive Vice President of Commercial Insurance at Axis, included in the inaugural Canadian list.
James has driven record growth in Axis Insurance’s commercial practice by prioritizing client education, tailored risk solutions, and long-term relationships. He is deeply involved in professional associations, helping shape best practices across the industry. His philanthropic efforts reflect his commitment to strengthening communities, and his balanced approach to client advocacy and evolving market demands have established him as a trusted leader.

Learn More About James Clay

What This Means for the Insurance Market

These recognitions represent more than individual achievements. They mark a significant step forward for Axis as one of Canada’s most capable independent brokerages.

For Axis, this is meaningful in three ways:

1. Axis is highlighted as a brokerage that elevates risk quality through precise, clear submissions that support stronger underwriting decisions.
2. Axis leadership is influencing the future of insurance in Canada and setting the benchmark for complex risks.
3. Axis gives clients confidence in a fast-changing market by cutting through noise, offering clear guidance and a forward-looking approach to emerging exposures.

In a market where complexity is rising and underwriting discipline is tightening, trust in the intermediary has never been more critical. As exposures continue to shift across the country, Axis remains committed to helping businesses navigate risk with clarity and confidence.
Our senior leadership brings consistent expertise, disciplined execution and a clear approach to risk, strengthening confidence at every stage of the placement and underwriting process. As the market continues to evolve, Axis will remain focused on delivering solutions that helps businesses stay ahead of risk, not just respond to it.

Let’s Talk About What’s Ahead

If you’re assessing emerging exposures or planning for the year ahead, our specialists can help you evaluate your risks through a clear, practical lens.

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