Zurich Global Employee Benefits Solutions (ZGEBS) in October 2022 announced that Sompo Himawari Life Insurance (SHL), the life insurance company of Sompo Holdings in Japan, joined the ZGEBS network. Alan Chua, Director, Customer & Distribution Management APAC, ZGEBS, commented that “[…] Zurich will now offer SHL’s “Insurhealth” solutions to Zurich’s multinational customers in Japan. […]”. The Insurhealth group product, by combining the original functions of insurance and healthcare, “provides

Allianz Global Benefits (AGB) and Sanitas, a healthcare specialist in Spain, in December 2021 announced a partnership agreement to globally provide group healthcare insurance programs to multinationals. According to Dirk Hellmuth, CEO of Allianz Global Benefits, Sanitas healthcare plans can be included in global employee benefits programs, such as Multinational Pooling, Captive Reinsurance and Global Underwriting. Javier Ibáñez, Managing Director of Sanitas Seguros, states: “We are very proud of

Multinational pooling network IGP in May 2021 announced a new partner in Cambodia, Sovannaphum Life Assurance. Sovannaphum Life Assurance (SVL) is a joint venture between Canadia Investment Holding, the owner of Canadia Bank, and Muang Thai Life Assurance, IGP’s partner in Thailand. The company was granted full license as a life insurance Company by Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia in December 2015 and started operations in 2016.

In a reversal of strategy, AIG in mid-June 2020 announced it had decided to wind down its AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN) multinational pooling network. According to the company, “AIG has realigned its strategy with regard to AIG’s Global Benefits Network business and as a consequence, [it] has decided to wind down its activities.” All existing pools will be cancelled effective December 31, 2020. AIG pooling clients now

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in May 2020 announced that AXA COLPATRIA had joined the London-based global employee benefits network. AXA COLPATRIA provides medical coverage in Colombia as prepaid and health insurance. It is headed by Bernardo Rafael Serrano López, General Director and CEO. The company claims to be the sixth largest carrier in the Colombian PHI sector (pre-hospital and insurance) with a 6% market share and 220,000

Brazilian insurance carrier SulAmerica in January 2020 joined Generali Employee Benefits (GEB) as a new partner for health and related coverage. Generali Brazil continues to provide life, accident, and disability coverage in Brazil for GEB clients.    

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN), the global network of locally licensed insurance companies founded by AXA and MetLife, in December 2019 announced it had teamed up with Peru’s largest insurance provider, RIMAC (Rimac Seguros y Reaseguros) to provide life and medical cover to MAXIS’s multinational clients. Prior to this, MAXIS GBN had Pacifico Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros as it’s Peruvian partner – alongside Insurope. RIMAC’s leading position

Max India in February 2019 sold its 51% stake in Max Bupa Health Insurance to private equity firm True North for USD 72 million. Max Bupa Health was co-owned by Max India, itself owned by Max Group. The Max Group is an Indian conglomerate with a presence in life insurance, health and related businesses, as well as in manufacturing. Max Group also owns Max Life Insurance through its Max

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in February 2019 published the 2019 edition its annual “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. The matrix “provides a complete listing of the eight global benefits networks, and their affiliated insurers across 200 countries and the offshore (third-country national or expat) capabilities for each.”

AXA Egypt in February 2019 joined pooling network MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN). AXA Egypt is the second MAXIS partner in the country, along MetLife Egypt, and joins the global network of over 140 local insurers. AXA Egypt was established as recently as 2015 and is a multi-line insurance carrier, offering general insurance, life and protection insurance, health insurance, and micro-insurance plans. The company is ranked fourth in

Adam Winslow in January 2019 was elected Chairman of the Board of the AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN) pooling network, succeeding Frank Schmid who remains a member of the Board while assuming new responsibilities within AIG. Adam in June 2018 became CEO, International Life and Retirement at AIG, a position he retains. Earlier, Adam held positions at AIG in France, South Africa, and the UK, both in life

Adam Winslow in January 2019 was elected Chairman of the Board of the AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN) pooling network, succeeding Frank Schmid who remains a member of the Board while assuming new responsibilities within AIG. Adam in June 2018 became CEO, International Life and Retirement at AIG, a position he retains. Earlier, Adam held positions at AIG in France, South Africa, and the UK, both in life

French social protection group (SPG) Malakoff Médéric Humanis (MMH) in January 2019 arose from the merger of the two former Malakoff-Médéric and Humanis SPGs. As the new French market leader in group life and health insurance (market share 17%), MMH has 426,000 corporate clients with 10 million people insured. Furthermore, it is the recommended employee benefits provider for 93 professional sectors, a significant competitive advantage. In pensions, MMH has

Bermuda-based Athora Holdings in January 2019 completed the acquisition of Generali Belgium, first announced in April 2018. The final consideration paid is approximately €540 million. Generali Belgium has 530,000 customers and sells a range of life and non-life insurance policies through around 1,000 independent brokers. In 2017, total premium income amounted to €640 million and assets to €6.5 billion. The company will be rebranded to Athora Belgium in the

Unum Group in October 2018 acquired Pramerica Życie TUiR SA from U.S. insurer Prudential Financial. Unum is a provider of employee benefits products and services, and the largest provider of group and individual disability income protection insurance in the U.S. and UK. Pramerica Zycie offers group and individual life insurance products in Poland. Aneta Podyma-Milczarek, president of Pramerica Życie, will report to Unum UK President and CEO Peter O’Donnell.

Swiss Life Global Solutions in April 2018 announced the appointment of Arne Schweikhart as Relationship Manager in charge of multinationals based in Germany, strengthening its presence in the German market. Arne has a strong background in the German market as well as in the expatriate and cross-border business. He previously was corporate distribution manager Europe with Zurich Eurolife in Luxembourg; senior key account manager with IT services firm acarda;

Multinational pooling network MAXIS GBN, an AXA-MetLife joint venture, in May 2018 announced three appointments in its distribution department, all promotions of MAXIS team members. David Schupak to head Western Europe as well as the UK, Middle East & Africa David Schupak adds Western Europe to his current role leading the UK, Middle East & African region, reporting to Head of Distribution Andrew Stocker. In other words, his area of

Swiss Life Global Solutions in April 2018 signed a new partnership in Singapore with FWD, a provider of group life and group medical plans, in addition to the existing partnership with Prudential Singapore. The partnership with network partner Dubai Insurance Company has also been increased, leading to an enlarged collaboration in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with countries such as Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. By

Swiss Life Network (SLN) in April 2018 announced a new internal structure with dedicated client relationship managers organized by geography. The international service desk led by Michael Gubser operates out of Luxembourg and is responsible for business analysis and network partners management, cooperating closely with the underwriting team. SLN is still strengthening its team in Luxembourg as nine positions were open as of late May 2018, according to the

Generali’s Trieste, Italy-based mother company Assicurazioni Generali SpA in May 2018 announced it would set up a new branch in Luxembourg, dedicated to the global employee benefits business. It will operate as the insurance and reinsurance operation of Generali Group serving global companies and their employees from the multinational corporate as well as the international middle market segments. The Luxembourg branch also will be used as a base to

Where are the headquarters of the world’s eight pooling networks? Brussels used to be the location of choice for multinational pooling networks, owing to its status as (one of) the capital(s) of the European Union. It is still is home to three networks, but Luxembourg appears to gain traction as GEB in May 2018 followed Swiss Life in relocating there. Network City / Cities IGP Brussels BE, Boston MA

AIG in December 2017 became the sole owner of the AIG Global Benefits Network (AIG GBN). By way of background, through one of its units, AIG in mid-2015 had acquired a controlling 50%+1 stake in the former ING network. Two years later, the two minority shareholders of AIG GBN, Malakoff-Médéric of France and NN (formerly ING) of The Netherlands, sold their respective stakes. The move confirms AIG’s commitment to

AIG Global Benefits Network in June 2017 announced that FWD Thailand had joined the network, further complementing its footprint in Southeast Asia. Established in 2012, FWD Thailand provides insurance coverage in savings, personal accident, retirement plans, and investment-linked insurance. FWD already is AIG GBN ‘s partner in Hong Kong and Japan. It is the insurance business arm of Pacific Century Group and has a minority shareholder in Swiss Re.

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN), a global joint venture between MetLife and AXA, in April 2017 announced the launch of its new website, client portal, and member portal as part of the firm’s extensive investment in its digital infrastructure. The new site has revised content about MAXIS GBN’s network, solutions, and thought leadership. The latter includes the new, monthly, Viewpoint series, webinars, and health and wellness white-papers. The

Ms Chua Wan Ching in March 2017 joined the IGP Singapore team as IGP Regional Director – Asia. Wan Ching, a Singapore national, brings with her a 17-year career in health and benefits, mainly gained within the advisor community, most recently with Willis Towers Watson and Aon, where she has been responsible for maintaining key relationships with global, regional and domestic clients. Her responsibilities in IGP include overseeing regional

As of April 2017, Michael Spincemaille, IGP Regional Director, will coordinate IGP’s LATAM regional activities via the offices of Network Partner in Mexico, Seguros Monterrey New York Life. Back in 2012, Michael began performing that same role via the Bogotá head office of Colombian IGP Network Partner, MAFPRE. The regional offices’ key objectives remain unchanged, i.e. servicing clients’ regional headquarters and subsidiaries in respect of their employee benefits arrangements;

The MAXIS GBN pooling network on February 7, 2017, officially opened its new headquarters in London, U.K., located at 11 Monument Street in the City. Since its launch in 1998, MAXIS, an AXA-MetLife partnership, had been managed from Paris and New York City. According to CEO Mauro Dugulin, in the present context of diminishing returns on multinational pooling; increasing interest in the use of captives; a greater thirst for