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New York — The latest study from New York-based Simon-Kucher & Partners, "Managerial Perspectives: Time for a Change! How Insurers Waste Profits due to Lack of Market Excellence," questioned 1,500 insurance executives in the United States about the management perspectives considered to be most important as well as those most frequently used in the industry.

State College, Pa. — Optical Image Technology Inc., (OIT) announced the appointment of Greg Cook from Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Co. as the new co-convener of OIT's Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). TAP is comprised of 20 current customers from a variety of industries as well as technology partners who share market insight, exchange knowledge and ideas, and provide suggestions for enhancing DocFinity products and services to designated OIT staff. Two seasoned DocFinity users also are joining TAP, and will broaden the knowledge base of the advisory group. The leaders and members were elected by the panel members late in 2007.

New York – Ted Mathas was named CEO-elect by the board of directors of New York Life Insurance Co. He will succeed Sy Sternberg, who has been CEO for more than a decade, upon Sternberg’s retirement on June 30, 2008. Beginning July 1, Sternberg will remain chairman of the board of directors in a non-executive capacity, for a transition period.

Frisco, Texas — Skywire Software, a global provider of software and services to the insurance, financial services and legal and professional services industries, announced Carrie Kirby as VP, HR and chief people officer.

Oakland – California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner reached a $10,050,000 settlement with Allianz Life Insurance Co. for allegedly targeting thousands of seniors in deceptive annuity sales. Allianz, the largest seller of annuities in California, purportedly deceived elderly victims into purchasing confusing annuity products that were financially unsuitable for their needs. In addition to the sizable monetary settlement, Commissioner Poizner announced that Allianz agreed to implement a groundbreaking suitability review process to further protect seniors.

Studying the competition and creating a better policyholder experience will go a long way toward building customer loyalty.

Hartford, Conn. — After a month-long trial in federal court that included six days of complex deliberations, five former insurance company executives were found guilty last week of taking part in a plan to manipulate the financial statements of American International Group Inc. (AIG).

Washington — American consumers want more from their health care system than they're currently getting—greater online connection to health care providers and medical records, customized insurance coverage and wider access to emerging innovations such as retail clinics, a new survey from Deloitte Development LLC reveals.

Mississauga, Ontario — York Fire & Casualty Insurance Co., the personal lines insurance arm of Kingsway Financial Services Inc., became Canada’s first insurance carrier to implement true XML real-time inquiry this month, claiming they answered the call from independent brokers who said they need real-time carrier communication to remain competitive.

Madison, Wis. — MemberCONNECT, CUNA Mutual Group's analytical approach to relationship building, provides credit unions with a direct marketing solution for auto and homeowners insurance. While the channel provides a tool for building member relationships on its own, it also is a complementary tool for credit unions with strong agency relationships.

Springfield, Mass. - MassMutual's Retirement Services Division launched a new Web site as a vehicle to share insights and information discovered in its Center for Behavioral Research. The research will be published for the benefit of participants, plan sponsors and the financial professionals who serve them.

Kansas City , Mo. - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) this week released a peer review of state producer-licensing laws, practices and processes that identifies areas where the states’ reciprocity and uniformity initiatives need improvement, along with areas where such efforts have been successful.

Surveys of CEOs reveal attitudes and expectations of technology.

London - Reed Elsevier PLC, a London-based publisher and parent of the LexisNexis information service, will spend $3.6 billion cash for ChoicePoint Inc., a 1997 offshoot of Equifax, the companies report. The acquisition is subject to ChoicePoint shareholder and regulatory approval, is expected to close in the summer of 2008.

In a pair of studies, Celent queries CTOs and CIOs from America and Europe, respectively, to gauge IT spending priorities for the coming year.

Ronald Katz, the well-known telecom technology inventor, is calling the shots with several large insurers—but for how long?

Madison, Wis. — American Family Insurance has restructured its information services division, the company reports. The move comes as a result of a study of technology leadership organizations at Fortune 500 firms, a company spokesperson said, and reflects a growing trend in Tier 1 insurance companies—restructuring of IT with the goal of optimizing business strategies and operational performance.

Washington – Testifying before a hearing of the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, a representative of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) pushed for the passage of the Homeowners' Defense Act.

Los Angeles — Farmers Insurance Group Inc., announced that Denise Ruggiero has joined Farmers as VP, legislative and regulatory affairs.

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. — The 2008 Global Outsourcing 100, the annual ranking of the world’s best outsourcing service providers, was released by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), Poughkeepsie, N.Y.