The OECD and UN Statistics Division in March 2026 released comprehensive new data revealing that the world’s 500 largest multinational enterprises are increasingly concentrated in the Americas and Europe, which together account for 74% of MNE headquarters and revenue compared to just 24% in Asia. The enhanced Multinational Enterprise Information Platform (MEIP) now includes employee, revenue, net profit and R&D data for the first time, using AI tools to

Dutch financial services firm Achmea in March 2026 announced it posted a 7% increase in operational results to €938 million in 2025, even as its core Pension & Life Netherlands division saw profits drop 25% to €282 million. The pension unit’s decline stemmed partly from provision harmonization related to Achmea’s strategic partnership with Lifetri. However, the broader business benefited from significant premium growth, jumping from €648 million to €2.17

Generali CARE in March 2026 appointed Wendy Liu as CEO Global Benefits and Partnerships, where she will oversee the company’s employee benefits and B2B2C businesses. Liu brings over 20 years of international insurance experience, including nearly a decade at Willis Towers Watson in benefits consulting and most recently serving as CEO of Zurich Integrated Benefits and International Life from 2011 to 2026. In her new role, she will oversee

In Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, unemployment remained stable at 5.0% in January 2026, maintaining levels at or below this threshold since April 2022, according to data published in March 2026. Of the 33 OECD countries with available data, 18 saw unemployment rates unchanged from December 2025, while 11 experienced decreases and four countries—Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey—posted increases. Notable developments include Spain’s unemployment rate dropping

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in March 2026 published new data on inflation, which fell to 3.3% in January 2026 from 3.6% in December 2025, but consumer prices remain 35.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels from December 2019. The decline was broad-based across the OECD region, with 22 of 35 countries reporting lower inflation rates. The number of OECD countries with inflation at or below 2% increased

According to new data published in March 2026 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), G20 GDP growth decelerated to 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 0.9% in the previous quarter, according to preliminary estimates. The slowdown was driven by contractions in Canada and South Korea, both falling 0.2% after posting growth of 0.6% and 1.3% respectively in Q3. The United States saw growth

The adoption of AI in captive operations is a rapidly evolving topic, with AI tools advancing at a rapid pace: a major development every six months, while adoption rates vary greatly not only from one industry to another, but also between competitors within the same industry. It is therefore useful to take stock of the adoption of AI by captives and their managers in the first quarter of 2026.

MAXIS Global Benefits Network in March 2026 appointed Brian McCarthy as Regional Manager for the US East Zone, tasking him with leading outbound business development across the eastern United States. McCarthy brings over 20 years of industry experience from pooling network IGP (International Group Program), where he spent 14 years as Assistant Vice President of Business Development. His expertise spans global benefits, captive reinsurance, product development, and client strategy.

Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority has authorized its first new captive insurer of 2026, marking the third formation in the jurisdiction within less than a year as it actively pursues Asian market expansion. CNNC Captive Insurance Limited, established by China National Nuclear Corporation, brings Hong Kong’s total captive count to seven insurers. The formation represents a significant shift for the jurisdiction, which had remained relatively dormant for several years with

According to a study released in March 2026 by PwC, global assets under management (AUM) are projected to surge from $139 trillion today to $200 trillion by 2030, yet the asset and wealth management industry confronts a stark profitability paradox that threatens conventional business models. Despite this massive growth opportunity, profit margins continue their downward spiral. Profit as a share of assets under management has plummeted 19% since 2018

In the U.S., MetLife expects group benefits and retirement and income solutions to remain key drivers of growth, supported by favorable economic and demographic trends, a senior executive said in March 2026. Speaking at the Raymond James 47th Annual Institutional Investors Conference, Ramy Tadros, regional president of MetLife’s U.S. business, said the company sees strong fundamentals in the employer benefits market, including high returns on equity and a rational

PensionsEurope in March 2026 published a statement criticizing the European Commission’s revised Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), arguing it still fails to adequately address the unique characteristics of occupational pension schemes. The industry association warned that the SFDR framework remains primarily designed for retail investment products rather than pension funds, which operate in fundamentally different environments. Unlike retail investors who can execute personal investment preferences, pension scheme members participate

Pensioenfederatie, the Dutch Federation of Pension Funds, in February 2026 urged the European Commission to better coordinate public and private investment in climate resilience projects as physical climate risks become increasingly critical for long-term institutional investors. In its response to the Commission’s climate resilience consultation, Pensioenfederatie outlined three key recommendations to mobilize private institutional capital for climate adaptation. The federation called for clearer expectations around private capital’s role in

German employers are offering an average of 6.6 employee benefits per company, yet 82% of HR leaders find the benefits market lacks in transparency and struggle to measure actual impact, according to the 2025 Roland Berger Study, published in February 2025. The comprehensive survey of over 1,700 HR executives reveals a troubling disconnect between benefits investment and strategic outcomes. Companies plan to add another 1.4 benefits in 2025, often

Generali Group and Swiss Life Global Solutions in February 2026 announced they had entered into a long-term commercial partnership under which Generali Employee Benefits (GEB) will acquire Swiss Life Network, subject to regulatory approvals. The transaction will combine the two groups’ global employee benefits networks, creating the largest platform worldwide in terms of geographical reach and premium volume. Once completed, the combined network will manage more than €3 billion

MAXIS GBN announced in February 2026 the appointment of Jayesh Patel as Chief Business Development Officer. Patel will join the Executive Committee and report to CEO Matthieu Rouot.

Dutch financial services giant Achmea in January 2026 appointed Frank Olde Hartman as director of Achmea Pensioenservices (APS), effective February 1, 2026, to oversee the unit’s strategic wind-down by 2030. The appointment comes as APS undergoes a major transition, with the business being phased out due to unprofitability as key clients migrate to the Netherlands’ new pension system. Achmea will continue supporting pension fund clients including Centraal Beheer APF,

MAXIS Global Benefits Network has partnered with LearnLux to strengthen its global financial wellbeing offering, expanding access to structured financial guidance for multinational workforces worldwide.

Generali Employee Benefits (GEB) marks 60 years in global employee benefits, highlighting its 127-country network and a forward agenda focused on digital transformation, analytics, inclusivity and sustainability.

According to the latest report from the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), published in December 2025, cross-border activity among IORPs across the European Economic Area stayed broadly flat in 2024. EIOPA’s fifth annual Cross-Border IORPs Report 2025 shows that 27 cross-border IORPs were active across the EEA last year—down one from 2023. Zoom out, though, and the bigger picture hasn’t changed. EIOPA confirms what it has been

Utmost Group in December 2025 announced it had agreed to sell its bulk purchase annuity (BPA) business, Utmost Life and Pensions (ULP), to JAB Insurance for an undisclosed sum, subject to regulatory approval. Completion is expected by mid-2026. JAB will acquire the entire business, which holds more than £5bn in assets and employs around 175 people. ULP entered the BPA market in late 2024 and has completed 11 buy-in

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in November 2025 appointed Jean-David Bridoux as Regional Manager – Western Europe within its global Business Development (BD) team. He has been promoted from his role as Account Executive, replacing Damian Allepuz who was recently appointed as Regional Director – EMEA. In his new position, Jean-David is responsible for outbound business development across Western Europe and will lead the existing regional BD team,

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in October 2025 published its Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2025. Corporate sustainability means integrating  environmental and social considerations into a company’s strategy, operations and disclosure. According to the OECD, “it fosters sound governance and decision-making, while helping investors better understand a company’s long-term risks and opportunities.” The 97-page document provides insights on how companies are implementing the sustainability-related recommendations of the

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in October 2025 appointed Damian Allepuz as Regional Director – EMEA within its global Business Development (BD) team. Damian has been promoted from his role as Regional Manager for Western Europe, taking over from Aaron Brown who is leaving MAXIS to take on an exciting new opportunity in the E.B. intermediary market. Damian is responsible for all outbound business development across EMEA (Europe,

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced dramatically in recent years, with impacts that are already reshaping society, business, and individual lives. Yet many of these implications remain poorly understood and unevenly shared. Focusing on the economic dimension, the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) published in September 2025 a working paper by Erik Brynjolfsson, Anton Korinek, and Ajay K. Agrawal: “A Research Agenda for the Economics of Transformative AI.”

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in August 2025 published the 2025 edition its annual “2025 Global Benefits Financing Matrix and Poolable Coverages” table. An indispensable tool of the trade for global employee benefits practitioners, it is available for download as a PDF. For the first time, WTW requires prior registration. The matrix “provides a complete listing of the eight global benefits networks, and their affiliated insurers and their offshore (i.e. third-country national

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in September 2025 issued its Economic Outlook Interim Report, subtitled “Finding the Right Balance in Uncertain Times”. According to the report, global growth was more resilient than anticipated in the first half of 2025, particularly in many emerging-market economies. Industrial production and trade benefited from front-loading ahead of higher tariffs. In the United States, strong investment linked to artificial intelligence boosted