Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in February 2022 announced the appointment of Enrique Acevedo, CEO of Colombian insurance broker Correcol to its Board of Directors. Enrique Acevedo has over 25 years of intermediary experience as head of the Correcol insurance brokerage. For the last 16 years, Correcol has been the largest independent broker in the Colombian insurance market, employing over 250 staff within its headquarters in Bogota, and regional

The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in December 2021 announced the appointment of Alan Fergusson as Global Employee Benefits Practice Leader, reporting to CEO Olga Collins. Fergusson has over 20 years of experience in the employee benefits sector. Prior to this appointment, Alan has been a consultant for WBN and has been associated with the network since 2012 evolving the E.B. strategy and participating on the Board of Directors from

Olga Collins in April 2021 became the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Worldwide Broker Network (WBN), based in San Francisco, California. She succeeds Francie Starnes, who became CEO five years ago and will assume the role of CEO Emeritus through 2021. Collins had been leading WBN member firm Beecher Carlson’s multinational practice for 7 years, as well as WBN’s Young Professionals Academy. Beecher Carlson is the large

Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in May 2019 appointed Alan Fergusson as Employee Benefits Director and member of the executive staff, based in the UK. He reports to WBN CEO Francie Starnes and replaces LeAnne Stefl who joins Gallagher as head of global benefits. Alan held his previous position as managing director of Mattioli Woods after selling his company – Kudos Financial Services in 2011. He has previously served on

The Indian employee benefits landscape has undergone rapid and dramatic transformation over the past two decades, hastened by economic growth, amendments to and increases in statutory benefits, new benefits paradigms introduced by Multinational Corporations (MNCs), and legislative and judiciary action. Employee Benefits stakeholders, in order to keep up with the times, must continue to evolve their benefits offerings to ensure compliance as well as competitiveness.

GBV: Thank you all for agreeing to this interview. Can we start with a history of captives in general and of the use of captives for employee benefits over the past 25 years?

German HR consulting firm Lurse in August 2018 announced the acquisition of the business interest of one of the partners of pension software provider Deutsche Pensions Group (DPG) who is retiring, while majority shareholders Ulrich Mix and Dr. Otmar Stüpp stay with the company. DPG will continue to be managed independently and be headed by Mr. Mix. A member of the Worldwide Broker Network (WBN), Lurse is an HR

The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) held its 58th Global Conference April 11th through the 13th, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. Over 330 WBN members, associate members, sponsors, and some clients attended, with EPIC serving as the member host. The 58th Global Conference had record attendance from the Employee Benefits field, with 65 Employee Benefits focused attendees coming to San Antonio. Sessions were regularly packed, and an enthusiastic audience gave a special energy to this rapidly growing part of WBN.

The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in April 2018 announced the election of three Board members, Susan Murphy from Canada, Matteo Scagliarini from Italy, and Markham McKnight from the U.S.A. Susan Murphy is President & CEO of Totten Insurance Group of Canada (a Hub International owned company), a national managing general agent focusing on niche and specialty products. She is a member of the WBN US and Canada Steering Committee.

WBN in April 2018 announced that global mobility specialist Globiana will join the network as its 11th Associate Member. Globiana helps multinational organizations train, guide and support their globally mobile employees and their families.  The company has a global footprint that spans over 140 countries, with offices in San Francisco, California and Stuttgart, Germany. The role of WBN’s Associate Members is to provide WBN Partner Companies with specialized support

Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in April 2018 added three new members to its 112-strong network. All three firms focus on employee benefits; their addition is consistent with WBN’s strategy of enhancing its capabilities beyond its traditional P/C business. EBCG is based in Illinois and has four field offices across the U.S. It focuses on employee benefits. GBS Benefits is based in Utah, with seven other U.S. offices. It offers

Global insurance brokerage Hub International in April 2018 announced the acquisition of ES3 Advisory from Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1999 by Darrell Ert, ES3 Advisory is an employee benefits and pension consulting firm. Faizal Mitha, Vice President of Employee Strategies, will join Hub TOS reporting to Dave Terry, President of Hub TOS. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

GBV: Please tell us about your appointment as Chairman of WBN, what does this entail? Jim Watt: I am going to be assuming the chairmanship of Worldwide Broker Network in April of this year (2018) and I’m excited about the opportunity because I really believe in the network and in the global aspects of business commerce.

Global insurance brokerage Hub International in March 2018 announced that it has acquired the shares of GMS Insurance. Based in Kitchener, Ontario (Canada), GMS Insurance is an independent benefit consulting firm that services clients in Southwestern Ontario and the greater Toronto area. GMS’s consultants address companies ranging from small start-ups to large national or international corporations. GMS Insurance will join Hub Ontario and Jonathan Shantz, President of GMS Insurance,

Global insurance brokerage Hub International in February 2018 announced that it has acquired the shares of Pointbreak Consulting Group. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia – Canada, Pointbreak provides employee benefits and pension consulting services. Kevin Jeffrey, Principal and CEO of Pointbreak, will join Hub TOS and report to Dave Terry, President of Hub TOS. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in January 2018 announced the appointment of Antoinette “Toni” Gambonini as Global Property & Casualty Consultant.  Based in London, Gambonini will work with WBN member companies on six continents in the areas of cross-border training, new business opportunities, and strategic engagement with major insurance carriers. Gambonini had previously held a similar role for Europe within WBN prior to her promotion. Prior to joining WBN

The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) Board of Directors in June 2017 elected Priscila Conduta Elias, President and CEO of Harmonia Brazil, to serve on the board of directors as the regional representative for South and Central America. Elias replaces her father Jose Roberto Conduta, who stepped down from the board in April 2017. Based in Sao Paulo, Elias has served as the President and CEO of Harmonia Brazil since 2011.  In her current role, she is

WBN (Worldwide Broker Network) in June 2017 announced the addition of Pacific Prime as its latest member. Pacific Prime is a brokerage firm headquartered in Hong Kong, and a growing international health insurance advisor and property & casualty broker that leverages its close relationships with over 60 insurance companies. Founded in 1999 by Neil Raymond, Pacific Prime employs more than 400 staff including 35 nationalities. Raymond began his working career at Shell

Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in January 2017 announced that three current members of its Board of Directors have been reelected to three-year terms.  The reelected directors include Juan Carlos Arias of Panama; Pavanjit Singh Dhingra of India; and Steve Hylant of the U.S. The 16-member WBN Board of Directors now is comprised of: Daniel de Swaan, WBN board chairman and Director at Meijers Assurantien in the Netherlands Juan Carlos

Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) in May 2016 announced today the appointment of LeAnne Stefl as Director of Employee Benefits, reporting to Francie Starnes, WBN’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Founded in 1989, WBN today includes more than 100 firms on six continents. WBN members’ combined annual property & casualty and employee benefits premiums exceed $50 billion. LeAnne joins WBN from WBN member and broker HUB International, where she was