Former Advocis chair, Gary McLeod, passes away

Advocis has announced the passing of Gary McLeod, the immediate past chair of the association. He was 58 years old.

“He will be remembered at Advocis and the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting for the skill with which he led these organizations and for his years as a volunteer,” current Advocis chair Roger McMillan said in a note to Advocis members. “But more so it will be for his enthusiasm, his unfailing kindness and his decency. He treated everyone with respect.”

McLeod was involved in a near-fatal car accident April 11, 2005, which required extensive rehabilitation. Despite the rigorous demands of his position as chair, he returned to work.

“Gary suffered an accident which ought to have claimed his life then and there,” McMillan said. “But it didn’t and our great fortune was to have this wonderful person with us for a little while longer.”

He was a member of Advocis since 1972 and was also named to the Advocis board of national directors for the 2006-2007 term.

As chair, McLeod spearheaded Advocis’ fight to have the Bank Act amended to ensure bank personnel would require the same licence as the rest of the industry in the distribution of insurance products. As part of this advocacy effort, he also called for strict definitions of “undue pressure or coercion” to safeguard customers from tied-selling.

On top of his work with Advocis, McLeod was executive vice-president and a principal of PPI Financial Group, heading up the firm’s group insurance division. There, he was dedicated to the design, implementation and management of employee benefit programs.

Holding the CLU designation, McLeod served as director and chair of the CLU/CH.F.C. Institute and was chair and director of CALU for 1997 and 1998.

“Gary was both a leader and a friend,” McMillan said. “We will miss him terribly.”

Filed by Steven Lamb, Advisor.ca, steven.lamb@advisor.rogers.com