Insurance Orgs Merge

In the US, two insurance trade associations providing extensive industry research programs to their members, have merged. LIMRA members voted unanimously and LOMA members overwhelmingly for the move, which will create LL Global Inc. from Jan 1st 2008.

Each organization will also keep its individual name and operate at its own headquarters.

LIMRA President and CEO Robert A. Kerzner will elad the new body while his LOMA counterpart Thomas P. Donaldson will chair LL's executive committee until he retires at the end of 2008. Susan Waring, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at State Farm Life Insurance Co., will chair LL Global's Board of Directors.

LIMRA's 'Markets Research Center' focuses on four market segments: the middle market, the affluent market, emerging markets, and the business market; and offers membership-sponsored industry studies, fee-based in-depth consortium studies and customized proprietary research. The Windsor, CT-based LIMRA is on the web at www.limra.com. Atlanta-based LOMA, whose particular focus is training and management, is online at www.loma.org. Markelytics Solutions India Pvt. Ltd is to offer its online MR services to the domestic market too - helped by an expansion of its operations including an additional facility housing a team dedicated to Indian customers.

Markelytics has marketing offices in the US and Europe servicing an international client base. In May, the firm announced plans for an expansion into Europe and appointed former ESOMAR and Nestle research chief Fredrik Nauckhoff to lead it as Head of Sales in France (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6740.htm ).

CEO Jasal Shah says the firm will effectively partner with Indian companies by functioning as an extension of their MR or marketing division. 'Online MR offers huge benefits as compared to traditional forms of research presently being done in India, the greatest benefits being speed and cost. We see a huge opportunity in India for our 'Online Market Research' services and see ourselves as a pioneer in this field.'

Shah says the firm's expertise in online research, online specialist panels and CATI Research will help it ride the wave of rising demand in India for newer methodologies.

The company's web site is at www.markelytics.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.