Zurich Names Global Life Insurance COO

Zurich Financial Services Group named Mark Sheridan as COO for its global life insurance business, starting January 1. Sheridan will manage all aspects of global life operations, including developing and executing strategy for information technology. He will report to Kevin Hogan, CEO of global life, and to Kristof Terryn, group head of operations.

Zurich says it has insurance subsidiaries in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, among other markets.

Recently, U.S.-based Prudential Financial Inc. and Zurich Financial teamed up on a referral program to help U.S. multinational companies offer group insurance benefits and retirement plans to their local, international and expatriate employees. Prudential Group Insurance will be able to refer to Zurich American Life Insurance Co. client requests to cover third-country nationals, and in some cases, local nationals and U.S. expatriates. Zurich American can refer to Prudential Group requests to cover large-scale U.S. domestic risks, according to Best's News Service, Dec. 6. 2011.