Posts In Category
_Issue012
News for issue 012
New Feature – GBV’s RSS Feed
To read Global Benefits Vision’s latest news, you can either take the initiative and go to the website’s homepage, or you can elect to have all news sent to you every day without further action on your part. Should you choose the latter, consider making use of our new RSS facility. Your RSS reader will come and fetch the latest news from the GBV website automatically and anonymously—and it
Olivier Goiot joins Swiss Life International as Head of Operations
Olivier Goiot in March 2016 joined Swiss Life International’s Corporate Clients unit as Head of Operations, reporting to CEO Theo Iaponas. Goiot joins from Farad Global Services, a private life insurance broker, where he was CFO; previously, he was Zurich Eurolife’s CFO and COO after positions at Zurich Insurance, Credit Agricole Asset Management and PwC. A graduate of EDHEC business school, he speak Spanish and English in addition to
Broker HUB International names Marc Cohen as President
Hub International Limited (HUB), a global insurance brokerage, in September 2016 announced the appointment of Marc Cohen as President of HUB International, replacing Richard (Rick) Gulliver who becomes Vice Chairman. Both will report to Chairman and CEO Martin P. Hughes. Cohen, currently Regional President of HUB East Region, will be responsible for driving continued growth and productivity improvements across the firm and Gulliver will continue to lead HUB’s external
General Electric’s pan-European pension fund move to Belgium approved
General Electric (GE) in September 2016 has had its European pension fund approved by FSMA, Belgium’s financial supervisory authority and the regulatory body for pension funds. GE is encouraging its existing European-based pension plans to join the fund, which takes the legal form of an Organisme de Financement de Pensions (OFP), Belgium’s IORP-compliant vehicle for pensions provisions. At this early stage, a management committee has been appointed. An IORP
BMW UK ending final salary DB pension plans
Auto manufacturer BMW in September 2016 decided to end both of its UK final salary-defined benefit (DB) pension plans. Both plans will cease future accrual as of June 2017, affecting around 5,000 members total. Citing significant pension fund shortfalls and the cost risks associated with DB plans, BMW explained that their plans are increasingly unsustainable and unaffordable for both the company and the pension plans members. Unite, the union
Swiss Life Implements New Organizational Structure from Luxembourg Hub
Swiss Life (SL) Market Unit International in May 2016 has begun implementing a new operating model for its Corporate Clients business line with a new leadership and a new organizational structure centralized in Luxembourg. Swiss Life Luxembourg will take a more significant role as the hub for the cross-border insurance business. Theo Iaponas has taken the lead for Corporate Clients, managing and developing both SL Luxembourg’s activities and the
AIMA announces changes to global Board of Directors
The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) in September 2016 announced that Simon Lorne, Vice Chairman and Chief Legal Officer of alternative investment management firm Millennium Management, would become its next Chairperson. In addition to Lorne, there are four new additions to the Council: Robin Grew, Chief Administrative Officer and GC of Man Group; Han Ming Ho, a partner at Sidley Austin; Ryan Taylor, Partner and Global Head of Compliance
Henner and Tokio Marine Life offer portable international health insurance solutions to workers headed to Singapore
Tokio Marine Life Insurance Singapore (TMLS) and Henner Group in June 2016 announced that they have joined forces to launch an international medical coverage solution for globally mobile employees based in Singapore. Henner is a French firm specialized in employee benefits and one of the largest and best-known TPAs in the international private medical insurance market where it was previously known as GMC. The partnership allows TMLS and Henner
French Group Insurer Quatrem Merged into Malakoff-Mederic
A leading player in the French benefits industry, life and health insurance carrier Malakoff Médéric (MM), which operates as a non-profit, jointly-managed mutual group, in September 2016 announced it would combine its teams with those of its wholly-owned subsidiary Quatrem. Reasons cited include the “impact of Solvency 2” as well as operational and commercial synergies. Quatrem was essentially Malakoff Médéric’s brokerage unit and wrote group business only, representing approximately
Zenefits Cuts Another 106 Jobs, 9% of its Workforce – New Product in Development
Zenefits in June 2016 announced it will cut 106 jobs, or about 9% of its workforce, and close an Arizona sales operation as it addresses licensing and governance issues. GBV in February 2016 had published another report on Zenefits, Zenefits hits more turbulence. In total, Zenefits has now announced about 350 layoffs or approximately one quarter of its workforce, mostly in sales; including resignations, there remain fewer than 1,100
French Teachers’ Mutual MGEN Launches International Benefits Division MGEN IB
In an unexpected move, French teachers’ mutual insurance company MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l’Education Nationale) in October 2016 launched its MGEN International Benefits (MGEN IB) unit, dedicated to expatriates. MGEN IB will develop a range of insured life and health products for globally mobile people originating from any country. It will address both individual and corporate markets in France and abroad, dealing with stays of any duration, from a
The French Health/Life Insurance Landscape
Employee benefits in France are provided by several types of insurance carriers, some of which are particular to that country—and that results in some confusion. Here is a brief overview of the main types of players. French English Translation Coverage Offered Applicable Laws and Regulations Institutions de Prévoyance (IP) Provident Institutions Paritarian Institutions Group health, life, pensions Social Security Code Groupe de Protection Sociale (GPS) Social Protection Group (grouping
The Health Insurance Group and Morneau Shepell partner to offer Employee Assistance Programs
The Health Insurance Group in September 2016 introduced a global and expatriate Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides help and support to people working abroad who are in crisis or need. Partnering with Morneau Shepell, the leading provider of integrated health and productivity solutions in Canada, The Health Insurance Group, located in the United Kingdom, offers a comprehensive suite of international assistance programs, including worldwide EAP, to help employees
Travel Assistance gaining importance as benefit for employees who travel
Travel insurance and assistance services are quickly gaining favor among travel professionals who work for companies that provide them. A new study, “Assessing the Prevalence and Value of Travel Insurance and Assistance Services”, published in September 2016 by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and AIG Travel, reveals that 95 percent of travel professionals feel that providing insurance or assistance services to employees is a valuable benefit for those
Healthmine Survey: Successful Wellness Programs lower costs and overall risk (USA)
HealthMine, a healthcare technology company based in Dallas, Texas, in August 2016 released the results of a study revealing that the majority (62%) believe that all health care plan participants should join a wellness program to help them lower their health care costs. 32% responded that wellness programs helped them reduce the number of sick days logged, and 33% said their wellness program helped them be more productive at
Connecture acquisition of ConnectedHealth will help streamline benefits decision-making
Connecture, an IT company that provides web-based solutions to the health insurance industry, in June 2016 acquired its Chicago-based competitor ConnectedHealth, a benefits technology company that offers an e-commerce platform that helps businesses control costs and ease the process of shopping for personalized insurance benefits online. ConnectedHealth is a private company and was founded in 2009. Based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Connecture is a provider of a web-based consumer shopping,
Worldwide Broker Network WBN names Francie Starnes as CEO
The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) Board of Directors in June 2016 elected to name Francie Starnes as Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest fully integrated international network of independent property & casualty insurance brokers and employee benefits consultants, effective in July 2016. Appointed WBN President and Chief Operating Officer a year ago, Starnes succeeds 40-year insurance industry veteran Bruce Basso, who becomes Chairman Emeritus. Founded in 1989 and
Generali launches 50th birthday makeover
The Generali Employee Benefits network (GEB), as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, has launched a redesigned website that offers a new look and feel, with a bold design and many powerful graphics to guide users to available resources. The launch features dynamic content, starting with the GEB history carousel, which gives an overview of how GEB and society have evolved side by side since Generali and Aetna founded
AIG GBN Broker Workshop, Brussels, 11 October 2016
AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN) on 11 October 2016 organizes a technical-commercial information session on pooling and on its network of insurance carriers across the world, that is specifically designed for brokers and financial advisors. Intended both for commercial and technical individuals, the workshop includes live examples and an actual case study at the end to put all the theory immediately into practice. The workshop is free of
China Life joins AIG GBN Pooling Network
China Life in July 2016 joined the AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN) pooling network. AIG GBN landed a big fish in China Life Insurance Company Ltd., headquartered in Beijing and the largest life insurance company in China. China Life has a well-known brand name, as well as of the most extensive distribution networks nationwide, with 979,000 exclusive agents, 45,000 direct sales representatives and 131,000 account managers in combination
Allianz Global Benefits: Jayesh Patel, new Head of International Risk Management Programs
Jayesh Patel since January 2016 has assumed the role of Head of International Risk Management Programs. In his new position he is responsible for the Captive, Pooling and Consolidated Underwriting programs of Allianz Global Benefits while also leading the global tender and implementation team and reports to François Jacquemin, Head of Products & Solutions. Jayesh Patel has been with the Allianz Group in various roles before joining Allianz Global
MAXIS Global Risk Solution webcast
The MAXIS Global Benefits Network on September 15, 2016 organizes a webcast, “MAXIS Global Risk Solution: Moving Beyond Traditional”. While traditional multinational pooling arrangements continue to generate value for multinationals, the employee benefits environment is also continuing to evolve. Among key drivers of change, ever more complicated regulations, especially when cross-border considerations are included; and corporate pressure to better budget and forecast benefit spending are driving employers to explore
IGP International Employee Benefits Seminar in Boston, 9-11 May 2017
IGP hosts its annual international employee benefits seminar in Boston, Massachusetts on May 9-11, 2017. The seminar includes a choice of up to 12 country panel presentations about local social security programs and customary private employee benefits practice, including legislative updates and recent trends and new products. Several keynote presentations address key issues of interest to global employee benefits professionals. Optional training sessions on multinational pooling, IGP’s “International Experience
50th Anniversary GEB Forum to be held in Brussels, Belgium, 21-23 November 2016
Marking GEB’s 50th anniversary, the 2016 edition of the GEB Forum will be held in Brussels, Belgium, from November 21 to 23, 2016. The preliminary agenda includes several presentations and round tables on the future challenges of the Employee Benefits industry. The event website is here. For more information on attending, contact the GEB event team at gebforum@geb.com .