Policy adminstration

In its most recent Insurance Carrier Scorecard, Keynote Competitive Research, the industry analysis group of Keynote Systems Inc., named Progressive Insurance’s website the top website in the car insurance industry. The scorecard, which is part of Keynote’s Online Excellence Competitive Research Study, rates companies on nine categories. Progressive has received top honors on 18 of the last 19 scorecards, dating back to 2000.

For Tony Kerrison, the day has long passed when it made sense to question whether cloud computing had a place in financial services companies' IT plans. Kerrison has been one of the industry's cloud computing pioneers: In 2008 he helped create an internal cloud for data center servers at Merrill Lynch (back then it was referred to as "stateless infrastructure"). This year he took the helm of the Enterprise Cloud Leadership Council, a group of corporate technology buyers developing cloud standards for vendors.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. has promoted three executives to senior VP positions.

Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF) agreed to sell an 85 percent interest in its personal lines business to WT Holdings Inc. for approximately $119 million. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, WT Holdings will acquire Fidelity National Insurance Company, Fidelity National Property and Casualty Insurance Company and FNIS Insurance Services. FNF will retain a 15 percent minority ownership position in the personal lines business.

The top business need driving 2012 P&C insurance technology initiatives is growth, according to a survey released today by technology solution provider StoneRiver Inc. The survey queried IT leaders at U.S. P&C insurance carriers, funds and administrators about priorities, IT direction, and status of services and architecture.

New data from Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) reveals that teens believe New Year's Eve is the most dangerous time of year to drive, yet it also is the holiday or event when teens most frequently drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

To properly address the pending changes in health insurance, organizations should have both project management and process management offices in place.

The industry continues to struggle with a bad economy and tough catastrophes, and technology will be asked to do more than ever, but at a reasonable price.

Encinitas, Calif.-based Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI) released its 2012 State Report Cards for Workers’ Comp this week. The report, which is used to track trends and give states a grade and tier ranking based on their performance, now includes data from a 10-year period. Forty-three states are covered, plus Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

MetLife Inc. took a step closer to exiting the banking business Tuesday by announcing that it is selling the bulk of its deposits to GE Capital Finance Inc.

American International Group Inc. CEO Robert Benmosche reportedly told the company’s directors that he would like to hold on to his position longer than he previously planned, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website.

With another stroke of the pen, President Obama signed a continuing resolution that keeps the troubled National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) alive until May 31, 2012. The program had been scheduled to expire at midnight on December 23.

Recent calculations from ISO and PCI indicate insurers faced extreme headwinds in their core business—underwriting.

With a net income decrease of over $20 billion and an increase in statutory combined ratio of over 8 percentage points based on year-to-year comparisons of the first nine months of 2010 and 2011, the P&C sector continues to weather a tumultuous storm. High natural catastrophe-related losses have devastated insurers bottom lines and decimated underwriting performance as a whole.

CBIZ Inc. has acquired the actuarial and retirement plan consulting business of PSA Insurance and Financial Services, effective Nov. 1, 2011. PSA's actuarial and retirement plan consulting book of business recorded about $1.2 million in revenue during the last 12 months and includes four associates servicing the business.

Farmers Insurance has named Scott Stice and Joe Richardson to newly created senior officer positions.

Agencyport Software has named Jeff Costley as senior sales director.

Off-the-shelf consumer devices present conveniences for IT staffs and employees alike, but the list of potential risks they present warrants concern.

Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings announced the retirement of Grahame J. Millwater, who currently serves as president of Willis Group Holdings and chairman & CEO of Willis Global. Millwater, who joined Willis as part of its graduate program in 1985 and was appointed president of Willis Group in 2008, has served the company in many roles of increasing responsibility.

Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. (TMHD) will acquire all outstanding shares of Delphi Financial Group Inc., a financial services holding company comprised of specialty life and P&C insurance and insurance-related businesses. The transaction is for $43.875 per Class A share and $52.875 per Class B share in cash, through TMHD's wholly owned subsidiary, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (TMNF). In addition, Delphi shareholders will receive $1 in cash per share, pursuant to a one-time special dividend from Delphi for each share of Class A and Class B stock they own. The total transaction value is around $2.7 billion and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.