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Core systems, front office and data mastery top the list of IT initiatives for 2008.

A new study from Gartner and ACORD finds that while insurers continue to adopt XML initiatives, they're not following the best practices in XML governance, funding and oversight.

New York — Ellen Melchionni, CAE, was recently named president of the New York Insurance Association Inc. (NYIA). Her appointment was effective Jan. 1, 2008. Melchionni succeeds Bernard Bourdeau, CAE, who retired after 18 years of service to the organization.

Los Angeles — Farmers Group Inc., announced the appointment of Scott Lindquist, currently controller of Genworth Financial, to the position of executive VP & CFO.

Lexington, Mass. – A recent survey finds that carriers are seeking underwriting automation and to ease their interactions with agents.

Simsbury, Conn. — The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., appointed Peter Smyth senior VP and director of strategy, development and operations for International Wealth Management.

Boston - AIR Worldwide Corp. (AIR), a provider of risk management data and services, announced results of the latest research by its team of scientists into the link between the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin and landfall activity. The latest findings provide a context for better understanding the 2004-2007 hurricane seasons and demonstrate that using Atlantic basin activity as a proxy for landfall activity can lead to erroneous estimates of both landfall risk and potential insured losses, says the company.

Jacksonville, Fla. — Life of the South Corp., a provider and administrator of credit insurance and payment protection services, announced that Elaine Pelletier, ASA, MAAA, joined the company as VP and chief actuary.

New York – Deloitte Consulting LLP has unveiled the results of its 12th annual life and annuity back-office operations benchmarking studies, LIONS 2007 and ACES 2007, which provide comparative analysis to benchmark expenses for operations and information technology among insurance companies. The analysis covers a variety of topics including efficiency, effectiveness, key trends, use of technology and business performance.

Stamford, Conn. — IVANS Inc., a provider of Medicare connectivity solutions and services, introduced a new high-speed, multi-user Internet solution for healthcare providers processing Medicare transactions, called LIME.

Cincinnati - With some 76 million baby boomers moving into retirement, the life and annuities industry is poised to grow at an exponential rate. Transforming labor-intensive paper processes into electronic ones is imperative to successfully serving this rapidly expanding market.

Northbrook, Ill. — The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) completed and published its eighth BMS Standards Release, 2007R2. Part of this new release is the subrogation assignment message.

Chicago — Alterian, a global U.K.-based enterprise marketing platform provider has announced a new partnership with ChoicePoint Precision Marketing (CPPM), a ChoicePoint business and provider of direct marketing and database solutions that specializes in the insurance and financial services industries.

In the latest in a series of research and advisory personnel moves, Matt Josefowicz, former managing director of the insurance practice at Celent, will head up a new research and advisory services company called Novarica.

New York - Global services provider Accenture has unveiled enhanced claims and underwriting solutions designed to help property/casualty insurers industrialize their operations by simplifying and modernizing their core systems and streamlining their customer service and underwriting capabilities.

Tallahassee, Fla. - The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) has approved an overall rate reduction of 18.4%, effective Jan. 1, 2008, marking the fifth consecutive year of workers' compensation rate decreases. The newest rate reductions will give Florida businesses a cumulative decrease of 51.4% since legislative reforms were enacted in 2003.

Hamilton, Bermuda — Security Capital Assurance Ltd (SCA) announced that Alan Senter resigned from SCA's board of directors, effective Dec. 27, 2007. The company also was informed by XL Capital Ltd that Michael Esposito resigned from his position as non-executive chairman of XL Capital Ltd's board of directors. Esposito will continue in his role as the chairman of SCA's board of directors. Senter will continue in his role as a director of XL Capital Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda — XL Capital Ltd, a provider of global insurance and reinsurance coverage, recently announced Michael Esposito resigned from the board of after serving as its chairman. He will continue as chairman of Security Capital Assurance Ltd, XL's 46%-owned affiliate.

Denver – Curian Capital LLC, a registered investment advisor that provides a fee-based, separately managed account platform to financial professionals, appointed Lloyd Sprague divisional VP for the Eastern region. Sprague will be responsible for managing a team of 15 external and internal regional business consultants, and overseeing educational and training efforts for Curian’s wholesalers.

Milwaukee — Marshall & Ilsley Corp., a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., announced the completion of its acquisition of Indianapolis-based First Indiana Corp. First Indiana, with $2.1 billion in consolidated assets, has 32 branches in Central Indiana.