About Us

Mashood Ali, BA, CIP, FCIP

EVP of Underwriting

P: 604-251-8323
E: mali@pmuspecialty.ca

Mashood is the go-to insurance specialist in the Canadian MGA sector. When you need to write a risk that might seem a bit out of the ordinary, he is your person. Ali is a seasoned 25-year insurance veteran, navigating complex corporate and government insurance placements.

Strengths include:

• Insurance placements across many different business sectors, creating risk mitigation strategies.
• Extensive knowledge of policy wording, claims investigation, portfolio management and key risk factors.
• Expertise in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality, oil & gas, and the healthcare, tech sector.
• Fluent with professionals to mitigate risks for Directors & Officers, Professional Liability and Medical professional liability, and medical malpractice.
• Influential with a broad range of industry networks and strong relations with key stakeholders such as senior executives, engineers, lawyers, claims professionals, developers, brokers, and insurance carriers.

In his spare time, Mashood enjoys spending time with his son at the hockey arena. He is also a long-time director of the MELA! Festivals, which organizes unique cultural celebrations that transcend language, race, and religion.

Chris Ball

CEO

P: 604-251-8322
E: cball@pmuspecialty.ca

Chris embarked on an extensive journey with his family’s company, the Reliance Group of Companies. Initially starting as an account manager in 1995, he ventured off in 1998 to gain valuable experience by working with top-notch Fortune 1000 accounts in the insurance industry. Throughout his time in Vancouver, New York, and San Francisco, Chris developed a deep understanding of complex risk management and insurance programs. Returning to Reliance Insurance in 2005, he assumed the role of CEO. Displaying the family’s commitment to growth, one of their objectives was expanding the Managing General Agent experience within the pleasure craft market. Within a short span of one year, Chris played a pivotal role in launching PMU Specialty, a distinctive MGA specializing in high-risk and hard-to-place markets.

Chris remains true to his family’s tradition and actively participates in both local and national insurance communities. His involvement spans across the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and the British Columbia Food Processors Association (BCFPA), where he was honored with the Rising Star Award. Additionally, he generously volunteers his time for various charitable organizations such as Caring for Our Youth, Kiwassa Neighborhood House, the East Vancouver Community Policing Office, North Shore Community Foundation, and Building Communities Together, where he leads trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to support community development.

As a thrill-seeking adventurist, Chris enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and even enduring a few broken bones. And when it’s time to unwind, he takes pleasure in his collection of vinyl records, acquired during the time of the COVID pandemic.

Jay Miah

Commercial Underwriter

P: 778-866-3298
E: jmiah@pmuspecialty.ca

A Commercial Specialty Risk Underwriter, Jay is building our book of business using the CGL and E&O binders. Notably, he is an Insurance Business Underwriter of the Year 2023 Excellence Awardee, having had an amazing positive impact since arriving in Canada and joining PMU Specialty.

Working directly with Mashood Ali, CUO and Chris Ball, CEO to achieve strategic goals, Jay is currently tasked with expanding product offerings to include a Property Binder. He is familiar with Domestic and Lloyd’s Lines of business and their intricacies thanks to his previous insurance experience in the UK, USA, and Canada.

Having begun his career working for a US, Bermuda-based Captive Program writing commercial Property and Casualty risks, Jay has been a part of innovation and change, leading teams in the insurance industry to success in the US and Canada. He is currently undertaking the CIP designation with a view to completing it in December 2024.

Louise Cropley

A Marketing & Digital Strategist with 15+ years of experience leading content-focused teams and a passion for leveraging technology to drive growth.

Adept in SEO, Generative AI, and marketing automation, Louise is a lifelong learner dedicated to staying ahead in the marketing technology landscape. She consistently achieves business objectives and delivers impactful results.

In her spare time, she likes to enjoy spending time with her husband and two sons. As an avid runner, Louise loves to run long distances around Trout Lake and the Vancouver Seawall.