Gregory Maciag

ACORD Board Aligns Plan with Vision

The ACORD Board of Directors met this month to review 2012 Plans and the 2020 Vision. The journey almost always begins with current plans and budgets.  We've been working on our agile standards development project to streamline the process.  We need to speed standards to market with a long range goal of distributing plug and play deliverables that require little if any tweaking for implementation.  Software components are in the planning stage.  We are also exploring web services as an emerging channel for the distribution and use of industry standards as well.  

We are creating a new standards development platform to replace the various databases and processes accumulated over the years from different sources. The platform will use the ACORD Framework (i.e. Models) in order to harmonize all aspects of the process.  We will be creating a client portal for use by developers for consuming standards into the enterprise. Our models and a streamlined platform will make it easier for us to focus on the distribution of implementation tools. We are planning for a tool to translate ACORD standards for example. 

An ACORD Forms portal is also in the plan to expedite updates and better inform users of agency systems.  Testing and certification will get the additional rigor required to support trading partners.  It works well in London and v2 will be expanded to include other lines of business.  We're also looking at how we can support mobile applications, some of which are already in use today.

Finally, we will continue our goal of seeking partnerships with industry organizations and continue advocacy for industry standards. Such collaboration will get us involved in eSignatures, Single Sign-on Passwords, ePolicy delivery and more.  And we have engaged a firm to work with us on both industry and organizational Metrics and plan to deliver new insights and tools for members to measure the seemingly illusive value of industry standards in large scale development projects. 

Thank you for your continued support of this industry effort.  Let me know your thoughts as your feedback will help us shape this vision to better meet your needs.

ACORD Elections & Appointments

PEARL RIVER, NY - January 18, 2011 - The MEMIC Group's President and CEO John Leonard has been re-elected by the ACORD Board of Directors (www.acord.org) as the 2011 Chair. Lawrence Blakeman of MetLife was elected as the Board's Vice-Chair. The announcements were made by ACORD's President and CEO Gregory A. Maciag.

Leonard is President and CEO of Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC), based in Portland, ME, and MEMIC Indemnity Company, with offices in Manchester, NH. He began with MEMIC in 1993, the company's first year, after a lengthy career with The Travelers, where he led the Commercial Lines Agency Marketing and Underwriting Division. MEMIC customers now account for approximately 65 percent of the commercial workers’ compensation premium in Maine.

He is a former President of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) and Chairman of its Executive Committee. Leonard is also the current Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and is a member of its Compensation and Nominating/Governance Committees. Previously, he served as a member of the National Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Pool Board.

Currently, he also sits on the Boards of Directors of MEMIC, MEMIC Indemnity Company, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He received the Distinguished Citizen Award presented by the Pine Tree Council in 2001, and in 2003 was inducted into the Maine Business Hall of Fame. In addition, he serves on the Board of the American Society of Workers' Comp Professionals, Inc. (AMCOMP). He was the 2008 recipient of the Legends Award conferred on him by this organization.

Lawrence (Larry) E. Blakeman is senior vice president and chief information officer in MetLife's Information Technology Group supporting the recently formed U.S. Business organization. In 2007, he was appointed senior vice president and chief information officer of Individual Business IT where he led information technology and operations for MetLife's Individual Business organizations. In 2008, he assumed the additional responsibility for the Auto & Home organization bringing together all IT support for the Retail business under his leadership. In 2006, he took on responsibility for MetLife's enterprise data management and enterprise architecture functions.

Larry joined MetLife in 1996 as a vice president and client relations executive in the business services group, responsible for providing IT services and support to the financial management organization. In 1998, he took on responsibility for enterprise-wide financial systems, as well as responsibility for support of Institutional Business and Individual Business financial systems. He assumed additional responsibility for corporate actuarial systems and the enterprise reporting group in 2000.

In addition, ACORD added three new directors by membership election: John Kellington, Cincinnati Financial; Robert Kelly, Steadfast Group; and Achim Stegner, Munich Re.

Also announced at that time was the appointment of Monique Hesseling of Zurich as chair of the ACORD Standards Committee which focuses on the development, maintenance, and enhancements of the ACORD Standards. Spero Zacharias, Chubb & Son, was named chair of the ACORD 2020 Advisory Committee which focuses on the long-range vision of ACORD Standards within the industry and the value proposition to implementers.

The following is a complete listing of the 2011 Board of Directors:

• Chair: John Leonard, MEMIC
• Vice-Chair: Lawrence Blakeman, MetLife
• Gregory A. Maciag, ACORD

• Sal Branca, Chartis
• Andrew G. Cassidy, Council of Independent Agents & Brokers (CIAB)
• Jeremy D. Cooke, Marsh
• David Findley,Outside Director, Immediate Past Vice-Chair
• Andy Fogarty, Outside Director
• Al Iuppa, Zurich
• Art Jetter, National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies
  
• John Kellington, Cincinnati Financial
• Robert Kelly, Steadfast Group
• James Knight, Chubb & Son
• Barbara Koster, Prudential Financial
• Sue Langley, Lloyd's of London
• Frank Liu, China Life Insurance Company, Ltd.
• Dennis Mahoney, Outside Director
• Brian O'Connell, The Hartford
• Jim Pedersen, Fireman's Fund
• William Pieroni, State Farm Insurance
• Keith Savino, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA)
• Markus Schmid, Swiss Re
• Bob Slocum, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA)
• Achim Stegner, Munich Re
• Tim Wright, Willis Group

For a full listing of the 2011 Board of Directors along with photos and biographies, please visit the ACORD website (www.acord.org/about).

ACORD Board of Directors in New York City

ACORD Board Meeting

We held our Board Meeting today in New York City. The Directors discussed ACORD 2020 research and heard from Steven Weisbart, Chief Economist from the Insurance Information Institute.  The senior staff also reported on their areas of responsibility.  The following video was created to introduce the managers as well.

ACORD Executive Committee 2010

Piciured are Andy Fogarty (Standards), myself, John Leonard (Chairman), Sal Branca (Finance), David Findley (Vice Chair), John Kellington and Larry Brandon (Audit). Together with Barbara Koster (Prudential) and Rainer Janssen (Munich Re), the Executive Committee meets throughout the year between the two Board Meetings to discuss updates from the various committees. The meeting was held this week in New York City.

ACORD Board Meets in London Office

The Board of Directors convened its winter meeting in the ACORD London office this year.  The office opened ten years ago as a result of the merger with WISe, the successor industry organization to WIN (World Insurance Network, RINET (Reinsurance Network) and LIMNET (London Market Network).  ACORD Life Standards had been used in various regions, but the WISe merger was the culmination of a decade long relationship with various London and European industry initiatives with reinsurance and large commercial lines. We have always had an open door policy when it comes to cooperating with other organizations.  It increases the value of ACORD Standards and eliminates barriers to open trade.

ACORD Directors Meet With Management

Pictured with me are Brian O'Connel, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, The Hartford Financial Services Group; Jim Knight, Global CIO and Executive Vice President, Chubb & Son, Bill Bloom, Executive Vice President, Insurance Operations and Information technology, Travelers; Sal Branca, Senior Vice President, AIG.

The ACORD Board of Directors are a very active group in terms of oversight and fiduciary responsibility. The Board is composed of several working committees that address all aspects of the organization. Brian, Jim and Bill are relatively new to the Board and visited the Pearl River office to meet with the management team for the day. Sal Branca and Keith Savino (not pictured) have been directors for several years and attended as well.

ACORD Directors Elected/Recognized

The ACORD membership elected several new directors this week.  Here is a press release announcing elected and re-elected directors.  Several directors have been recognized by the industry as well.

John Leonard, New ACORD Chairman

John Leonard was elected Chairman of the Board by the ACORD Board of Directors with his term beginning on January 1, 2008. John replaces Clem Booth from Allianz who is remaining on the Board. New Directors elected by the ACORD membership include: Andreas Beerli, Swiss Re; Larry Blakeman, MetLife and Bob Slocum, IIABA. The detailed News Release is avaible.

Inside the ACORD Board Room

The ACORD Board of Directors meeting was convened today in our Conference Centre at the ACORD office in London.  Chairman  Clem Booth  (Allianz)  presided over  a busy agenda addressing  financial and legal topics.  The Board approved the 2008 Operating Plan & Budget and provided with a briefing on the London Market and ACORD Standards.

Since John Kellington joined the ACORD staff in October, the Board elected John Leonard to serve as Chairman of the Board for 2008.

Kellington Joins ACORD

Earlier this year, I decided to add a Senior Vice President to the management team. ACORD Standards have become more complex over time, particularly as we approach standards-setting from the enterprise perspective. Recruiting someone with a strong technical background  was essential, but the business side  was also important. John worked at IBM prior to becoming SVP & CTO at Ohio Casualty. Among other roles, he was considered one of the leading enterprise architects in our business.  He will join us on October 15th and  hit the ground running.  He knows us well, knows where we need to go and how to get there.  He was elected to be Chairman of the ACORD Board in 2008. I may have lost a great ACORD director, but I am pleased to have him on my team.

Board Meets at Munich Re

Rainer Janssen, Group Information Executive welcomes the ACORD Board to the Munich Re headquaters. The agenda for the meeting was focused on excellence in governance. The Board reviewed the results of a year-long governance review conducted by legal, financial, compensation and IT auditors. The outcome was positive.  Changes were made to the Operating Procedures and recommendations to change the Bylaws were sent to the membership for approval.

Globalization Continues

  I read The Economist for it's balanced view of the world (in my opinion).  As I am now preparing for our December Board of Directors meeting in Munich, the 16 September issue has been very helpful. It includes a pullout survey of the world economy and speaks to the growth in global economic output from the developing nations.  Our theme in Munich will be globalization and we will have roundtables by region.  The bottom line is that we serve members in all parts of the world today and we plan to re-calibrate our governance structure to better connect with organizations around the world.  The key to collaboration and cooperation is connecting people and that presents a few challenges as we span the time zones. I know that part of the solution will be for us to leverage technology to bridge the time gap. Yes we are a very local global industry, but my fellow trade associations and global standards bodies have much to gain by cooperating. I appreciate local differences, but we should not spend money re-inventing wheels.