New Hire: Rick Yates named vice president, insurance relations for Driven Brands Canada

Toronto, Ontario — March 19, 2020 — Rick Yates will serve as vice president, insurance relations for Driven Brands Canada.

In the new role, Yates will oversee the development, strategic engagement and growth of insurance relationships and partnerships across Canada. In addition, Yates will lead the insurance relations teams for CARSTAR Canada and Uniban Canada.

A past president of the Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association, Yates has spent many years in the glass industry and held key positions in the insurance sector, most recently as a franchise partner and former corporate employee at CARSTAR.

“We are honoured to have someone of Rick Yates’ caliber join our corporate team,” said Michael Macaluso, the president of Driven Brands Collision & Glass Division. “His decades of insight from the glass industry and in-depth understanding as a successful CARSTAR store owner will make him a vital member of our team and a fantastic resource for our franchise partners.”

Yates is a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) with a business management degree in computer programming. He was the first vendor manager for a major insurance carrier, rose to the position of Vice President of Claims – Western Canada, and then worked as the Director of Franchise Development for CARSTAR before opening his three CARSTAR locations with his wife Wendy in Hamilton, Ontario.