Munich Re America Hosts 2008 Casualty Claims Seminar at the University of Wisconsin to Address Projected Shortage of Experienced Claims Adjusters

Business Wire, August 26, 2008

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Munich Reinsurance America (MRAm) hosted a two-day seminar last week aimed at addressing a projected critical shortage of experienced claims adjusters. "The loss of experienced adjusters due to retirements and the difficulty in attracting and retaining new claims talent continues to be one of our industry's greatest challenges," said John Rodgers, Chief Claims Officer and Senior Vice President of MRAm. "We wanted to help meet this challenge by offering a very practical, hands-on program about fundamental processes in claims management."

The program was presented by MRAm's Claim Division, in conjunction with the law firm of Coughlin Duffy LLP and the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Business. A total of 60 claims adjusters, representing 22 MRAm client companies, attended the 2008 Casualty Claims Seminar at the University of Wisconsin's Madison Campus on August 20 through 22.

The main objective of the seminar, which targeted casualty claims adjusters with three to five years experience, was to help increase the general level of expertise and skill among primary carrier claims departments, thereby improving primary insurer loss experience.

"The claims function has evolved in such a fundamental way that it now requires not only more sophisticated technical expertise, but the ability to coordinate diverse and complex information systems," John said. "The industry now widely recognizes that management of claims is essential to an insurance company's success and its image in the minds of the public. Without effective claims skills and processes, loss costs climb and customer renewal retention falls."

Added John: "The intent of this seminar was to share information about principled, fair claims processes and practices. This approach has served MRAm well over our history and underscores our long-held philosophy to not only do things right, but to do the right thing."

For further information about the seminar, please contact Lourdes Francisco, Senior Vice President - Claim Department Manager, Munich Reinsurance America lfranciscol@munichreamerica.com, (609) 243-4844.

Munich Re America Corporation, a member of the Munich Re Group, is one of the leading providers of reinsurance in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, it writes treaty and facultative reinsurance, insurance, and provides related services to insurance companies, other large businesses, government agencies, pools, and other self-insurers. The Munich Re Group, whose business also includes primary insurance and asset management, has a preeminent position in the global reinsurance industry. It is headed by Munich Reinsurance Company of Munich, Germany, which includes reinsurance subsidiaries, branches, service companies, and liaison offices in more than 60 locations worldwide, serving corporate clients from around 160 countries. More about Munich Re America products and services can be found at www.munichreamerica.com.