Subject Root Tag

New technologies take virtualization to the application and database level, helping it reshape and transcend the data center.

Peoria Heights, Ill. — Pearl Dental Insurance recently launched a new Web site that provides an immediate, online quote rating engine for insurance brokers and dental plan prospects living in most states.

Hillsdale, N.J. — Despite the ongoing crisis in the real estate industry, MyClosingSPACE.com is making its debut in New York, offering residents across the state the ability to purchase title insurance and mortgage closing services directly online.

Researchers say India is only just beginning to tap its enormous potential, and stands poised to become a giant in the world economy, with its insurance industry playing a part.

Denver – The Colorado House of Representatives defeated H.B. 1143, a proposal to ban the use of credit-based insurance scores. The bill was narrowly voted out of the House Business and Labor Affairs Committee last week by a vote of 6-5.

Hardware-centric HP buys enterprise software provider Exstream in order to push into the variable data publishing arena.

A recently published study from Diamond Management & Technology Consultants Inc. finds that roughly 33% of organizations prematurely terminated at least one business process outsourcing relationship during the past year.

New York — Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. has named former ACE Ltd. CEO Brian Duperreault as president and CEO of MMC. Duperreault, who retired from Hamilton, Bermuda-based ACE in 2006, succeeds Michael Cherkasky in the lead role at MMC. The New York-based company announced last month it was seeking to replace Cherkasky, citing a need for new leadership amid disappointing financial results.

Wausau, Wis. — Susan Doyle was appointed president and COO of Wausau Insurance. Wausau Insurance comprises the operations of Employers Insurance Co. of Wausau, Wausau General Insurance Co., Wausau Business Insurance Co. and Wausau Underwriters Insurance Co. Wausau Insurance is part of the Commercial Markets business unit of the Liberty Mutual Group.

Brookfield, Wis. — Fiserv Inc., a provider of technology solutions, announced its appointment of Denis O’Leary, a private investor and consultant with expertise in enterprise technology, financial services and consumer payments, to its board of directors.

The Hague — AEGON N.V. announced that Johan van der Werf has stepped down as CEO of AEGON The Netherlands, as of Jan. 21, 2008. van der Werf, who also serves on the Management Board of AEGON N.V., has led the Dutch organization since 2002, and has worked for AEGON and its predecessors since 1982. He will serve as an advisor to the executive board for the remainder of the year.

New York — Haier New York Life, the joint venture between New York Life Insurance Co. and China's Haier Group, opened a branch in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China. Haier New York Life, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, is the first Sino-U.S. life insurance joint venture with a license for the economically important city of Wuhan. The operation received approval from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission to establish its Wuhan branch in November 2007.

Chester, Pa. — AdminServer Inc. added two industry veterans, Roger Soppe and John Connell, to the AdminServer sales team. Both will report directly to Jim Rourke, AdminServer's chief marketing officer, and will be instrumental in AdminServer's continued focus on sales and aggressive expansion in all insurance markets: life, annuity, property/casualty, health and reinsurance.

Stamford, Conn. — Towers Perrin is expanding its reinsurance intermediary business to serve the French domestic market.

New York — Fifty-five percent of well-insured adults go online six or more times a week, according to Experian Research Services. As the insurance industry has the highest customer acquisition cost in business today, an online strategy is necessary to attracting these well-insured prospects.

Jersey City, N.J. — ISO Senior VP Richard Boehning will retire on Jan. 31, 2008, concluding a 20-year career supporting the insurance industry.

Schaumburg, Ill. — Zurich recently named Domenick DiCicco as chief claim counsel for its North America Commercial division. DiCicco will be responsible for managing claims’ legal operations in Zurich’s Schaumburg, Ill., and Baltimore offices.

Washington – The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3959, which would gradually phase out some of the subsidies in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

New York — James Schiro, CEO of Zurich Financial Services, was honored as the 2007 Insurance Leader of the Year at St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Sciences. The award, which was presented at the school’s 13th Annual Insurance Leader of the Year Award Dinner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, raised more than $2.4 million for students and programs at the School of Risk Management

Brookfield, Wisc. — Fiserv Inc., a provider of information management systems and services, announced that Richard Jones will join the company as executive VP and CIO. The new position, which will report to the CEO, will have oversight responsibility for global infrastructure, technology governance, and spearheading programs to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s dispersed technology resources.