Contract Surety
Leadership and Expertise
As a long-established and trusted partner in Canada, Aviva’s Contract Surety team understands the diverse markets from coast to coast to coast. We’re positioned to move quickly to deliver the right solutions. Aviva offers the benefits of an international business, with experience and decisions made by Canadians who know your clients’ businesses. Put our team to work for you and your clients today – get to know our Contract Surety leadership team.
Raymond Llamas
VP, Contract Surety
Raymond Llamas serves as a national leader in contract surety, managing a team of experienced underwriters across Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. He provides strategic guidance and endorsement on large, complex construction risks while fostering strong, collaborative relationships with clients and broker partners across Canada.
As one of five senior surety leaders at Aviva, Raymond plays a key role in shaping overall surety strategy, marketing initiatives, and engagement with various stakeholders, as well as contributing to internal governance and insights. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, he brings extensive expertise in credit assessment, risk analysis and results-oriented directives.
Raymond is passionate about his multifaceted role, which enables him to build meaningful connections while providing guidance on operational and financial risks. His depth of experience and leadership will continue to strengthen Aviva’s relationships and presence across the surety industry.
Bill Giffin
Assistant Vice President, Atlantic Surety
Bill Giffin leads the Atlantic Canada surety team, serving as a familiar and authoritative presence to surety brokers and customers across four provinces.
With more than 30 years of underwriting experience with Aviva and its predecessors, Bill’s legacy knowledge means he’s encountered just about every surety scenario and can confidently cut through complexity to deliver successful outcomes.
Along with his team, Bill nurtures a wealth of enduring relationships with brokers and construction companies in Eastern Canada. He develops partnerships by seeking to understand existing and potential customers’ businesses and providing valuable solutions for all.
Christopher Salvatore
Assistant Vice President, Ontario Surety
As lead of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area surety team, Christopher Salvatore is responsible for managing and maintaining relationships with brokers and clients across Western Ontario.
Christopher has worked in underwriting for 15 years, the last 10 of them with Aviva. His signature approach to providing exceptional surety solutions is consistent underwriting and strong relationship building. A steady, reliable process provides brokers with assurance of the high quality their clients can expect with every engagement.
A former university teaching assistant, Christopher brings his love of coaching to his work as a leader, providing valuable learning opportunities to his underwriting staff and brokers alike.
Jeff Cernele
Assistant Vice President, Ontario Surety
Jeff Cernele leads an Ontario surety team that extends from downtown Toronto to Eastern and Northern Ontario.
As the son of a site supervisor for a local homebuilder, Jeff spent his summers growing up working on construction sites. While achieving an MBA, he was introduced to surety as a fulfilling career that combines his familiarity with construction and his expertise in underwriting and financial analysis. Now with nearly 15 years in the industry, Jeff appreciates the close relationships he has with his clients and spending time getting to know new ones at industry events.
Before taking his current role, Jeff completed a secondment as part of a large international contract surety team at Aviva. The experience offered insight into unique underwriting approaches that adds value to the work he does today.
Kfir Ozgaon
Senior Manager, Quebec Surety
Kfir Ozgaon brings a modern toolkit to his management role. A mastery of AI allows him to work efficiently while providing meticulous underwriting solutions and building strong relationships with brokers, clients, and his team.
With an equally strong focus on risk analysis and friendly communication, Kfir demonstrates an attention to detail in his underwriting and management functions as well as maintaining connections in the field. He’s known for remembering small but important things that help nurture sales and strengthen existing rapport.
Kfir got his start in surety nearly 10 years ago while pursuing a degree in finance. Recognizing that the work is rooted in both analysis and social skills, he’s sure he’s found the right fit with his career.
Nicholas Witzerman
Assistant Vice President, Western Canada Surety
Nicholas Witzerman is Aviva’s surety voice in the west. As the leader of a team underwriting complex construction and infrastructure projects, he’s responsible for providing creative and strategic solutions in an evolving and challenging environment.
In addition to 15 years of underwriting experience, Nicholas brings a sales and marketing background to his role. He’s service-driven; committed to efficiency and providing timely results to his clients and staff members.
Nicholas is proud to be a part of underwriting many landmark western Canadian infrastructure projects that make a difference in communities every day. He is passionate about being a strong partner in providing risk solutions and contributing to the industry by engaging with various construction associations.