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State Farm® Announces Jon Farney as New CEO

State Farm President Jon Farney has been selected as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer by the State Farm Mutual Board of Directors. Farney will formally begin his role on June 1. The announcement was shared by Chairman and retiring CEO Michael Tipsord, who expressed his confidence in Farney's abilities. Tipsord stated, “Jon and I have worked together for many years. I’ve seen how much he cares about State Farm, how much he cares about the people at State Farm, how he solves problems, and how focused he is on taking care of our customers.”Farney, who joined State...

George Williams Appointed to Lead Nationwide's Small Market Commercial Lines Business

Nationwide has appointed George Williams to lead its Small Market Commercial Lines business. Williams, who previously served as the company's chief operating officer for commercial lines, excess & surplus, and specialty, brings over two decades of industry experience to the role.Russ Johnston, Nationwide's president of Commercial Lines, Excess & Surplus, Specialty, expressed confidence in Williams, stating, "Leading a small commercial platform requires a combination of underwriting, technology, operational excellence and customer focus. George has a proven background in...

Prominent life and health insurer to revisit possible mutual holdco formation

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. has announced its plans to explore the formation of a mutual insurance holding company (MIHC), as confirmed in its 2023 annual statement. The company stated that it is undertaking this exploration to fully understand the structure's requirements and potential consequences, without establishing a specific timeline for the process.The potential MIHC formation would enable Mutual of Omaha to maintain its policyholder ownership structure while enhancing its access to external sources of capital. This move reflects the company's strategic...

California’s Regulatory Restrictions Contribute to Risk Crisis

NEW YORK, March 14, 2024—California’s regulatory restrictions on insurance pricing and underwriting, along with the need for more mitigation efforts, are significantly impacting the insurance industry in the state, as highlighted in the Insurance Information Institute’s (Triple-I) latest Issues Brief.The report, titled Trends and Insights: California’s Risk Crisis, discusses how Proposition 103 and its regulatory implementations are hindering insurers from adapting to the evolving risk landscape in California. Sean Kevelighan, CEO of the Triple-I, emphasized the need for...

Don’t eat that! How to prevent pet poisoning

In light of Pet Prevention Poison Month, Nationwide is urging pet owners to be vigilant about their furry companions' safety. The initiative comes after a family experienced a worrisome incident involving a plant that led to a costly visit to the veterinarian.Nationwide advises pet parents to take preventive measures to avoid such situations. They recommend visiting Nationwide's PetHealthZone for tips on pet safety and what to do if a pet ingests something harmful. Additionally, Nationwide offers its members access to veterinary professionals around the clock through the...

New Consumer Insights To Help India’s Gaming Brands Grow

The Gaming industry is among India’s rising sectors growing rapidly on the back of digital technologies.

Wells Fargo introduces Autograph Journey card for travel enthusiasts

Wells Fargo & Company recently announced an expansion to its Autograph rewards cards with the introduction of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa card. This new addition is designed for frequent travelers, offering accelerated rewards in popular travel categories.

Apple expands innovative Restore Fund with TSMC and Murata

Suppliers will support new nature-based carbon removal projects alongside Apple, as the fund’s initial phase is underway

US P&C Q4'23 earnings recap – Allstate logs 1st net profit since Q1'22

The Allstate Corp. reported a significant turnaround in its financial performance, with the company marking its first positive pretax net income since Q1'22. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Allstate recorded a net income before taxes of $1.83 billion, a stark improvement from a net loss of $410 million in the same period of 2022. This positive result was driven by rate increases and enhanced property-liability underwriting income and ratios.Analyst Meyer Shields from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods highlighted the effectiveness of the rate increases, stating, "We're still seeing...

Announcing new sustainability enterprise offerings to optimize IT resource usage securely

Organizations across the enterprise looking to transform their business models to meet the growing demands of regulatory changes, key stakeholders and environmentally conscious customers aim to prioritize sustainability in their core operations.

Should my business use Generative AI?

Businesses are increasingly intrigued by the possibilities offered by Generative AI technology. The potential applications of this innovative technology across various aspects of the value chain have sparked significant interest. However, the decision to integrate Generative AI into business operations requires careful consideration and evaluation.Nationwide’s Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Chetan Kandhari, sheds light on the crucial factors that companies contemplating the adoption of Generative AI must take into account. Kandhari emphasizes the importance of...

Amazon RDS now supports io2 Block Express volumes for mission-critical database workloads

I am pleased to announce the availability of Provisioned IOPS (PIOPS) io2 Block Express storage volumes for all database engines in Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS).

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Expands with Square for Franchises to Power Nearly 100 Locations

Square for Franchises helps Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe manage enterprise-level operations for every location from a single dashboard

Flying Food Group’s inflight catering meals praised for quality and taste on STARLUX flights

Flying Food Group recently won praise for their catered meals from the toughest audience on Earth: the internet.

Nationwide Introduces Video Consultation Feature on VetHelpline for Pet Parents

Nationwide pet insurance members now have access to a new video consultation feature on Nationwide’s VetHelpline®, providing them with face-to-face conversations with veterinary professionals around the clock. This new addition aims to offer a more comprehensive solution to pet owners, as stated by Mariel Devesa, Nationwide Pet’s Head of Growth, Expansion, and Development, who highlighted, "Our new VetHelpline® merges technology with peace of mind for our consumers in one of the most comprehensive solutions in the market today."The VetHelpline® service is exclusive to...

Nationwide Leaders Drive Critical Discussions on Finance and Economics

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company and a prominent player in the financial services and insurance sector, has been actively engaged in critical discussions centered around finance services and economics. In recent engagements, Nationwide's thought leaders have shared valuable insights on various platforms.Jim Fowler, Nationwide’s Chief Technology Officer, recently participated in a panel discussion on Nasdaq TV where he discussed the impact of generative AI on customer service. Fowler highlighted how Nationwide has strategically invested in AI over the past decade to...

ESPN+ Now Available to Charter’s Spectrum TV Select Plus Customers at No Extra Cost

With 30,000+ Live Events and 3,000+ Hours of Original Content, ESPN+ is Now Included with TV Select Plus Packages

Data residency in the AI era: New capabilities to manage your data

In January, we updated our Microsoft Copilot product line-up to expand Copilot for Microsoft 365 to more businesses and announced no seat minimum for commercial plans.

Nationwide and Annexus Celebrate 10-Year Partnership with NYSE Bell Ringing

Nationwide and Annexus marked a significant milestone in their collaboration by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March 7. The event celebrated a decade-long partnership that has brought innovative solutions to the financial services marketplace, benefiting American retirement savers.Mike Morrone, vice president of Nationwide Annuity business development, highlighted the impact of the partnership, stating, "Our partnership with Annexus has enabled us to take our product innovation to the next level." This collaboration allowed Nationwide to enter...

Pump It Up – Gas Prices Rise Ahead of Daylight Saving Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2024)—Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a few months ago."Spring is nearly here, with longer days, better weather, and more opportunities to hit the road," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And we are seeing this reflected in rising gasoline demand. But remember, we see this trend every year."For the...