LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ACE European Groups Chairman, Andrew Kendrick, today set out a five-point approach for European success as he addressed delegates in a keynote speech to the Insurance Day Summit in London.

Speaking to more than 100 chief executives and senior management from the London insurance market, Andrew Kendrick advised that European insurers and brokers need to think differently about the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region in todays low-growth economy if they are to unlock future opportunities. Andrew Kendrick said that the five key ways in which ACE is thinking differently about the region are:

The experts believe that growth in world trade will continue to outpace growth in GDP in the years ahead. So global trade growth is a megatrend thats here to stay, and therein lies the first opportunity for Europes insurance industry.

As European clients continue to focus on financial counterparty risk, I believe that financially strong insurers will be able to claim real competitive advantage I predict that balance sheet strength will become a driver of differentiated pricing in Europe in the not too distant future.

Europe is a region with an ageing population, and considerable personal wealth. At the same time, it has massive unfunded pension liabilities and costly healthcare systemsAs a result of all this, I believe that some of Europes best opportunities lie outside the P&C sector right now.

The good news for our industry is that insurance is becoming an increasingly understood aspect of social and economic well-being across the regions emerging markets, from Poland to the GulfAnd as a close neighbour, Europes insurance industry is well placed to take advantage.

In the wake of all the economic turmoil and the hubris at the banks, London has steadily reasserted itself as the capital of global insurance.

Andrew concluded by predicting that for those insurers and brokers prepared to think differently, and to look beyond the obvious, Europe still offers a world of opportunity. Industry participants based in London should be particularly well placed to take advantage of the most important macro trends, such as the growth of trade and emerging markets, he said.

A full transcript of the speech is available on the ACE European Group website at http://www.acegroup.com/eu

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Andrew Kendrick Shares Five-Point Approach for European Success in Keynote Speech to Insurance Industry

Mark Seliger/NBC

"Smash's" Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty

[Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season finale of Smash.]

NBC's Smash wrapped its freshman run Monday by crowning a Marilyn Monroe once and for all as Bombshell was forced to make a final decision between Ivy, who played the part during the workshop, and newcomer Karen, the show's most recent understudy.

Ultimately, Derek's (Jack Davenport) visions of Karen (Katharine McPhee) as Marilyn gave her the edge over Ivy (Megan Hilty), despite his romantic connection with the latter. His decision, meanwhile, doesn't go over well with Tom (Christian Borle), Julia (Debra Messing), Eileen (Anjelica Huston) and Ellis (Jamie Cepero), who admits to getting rid of Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) so the production could make its way to Broadway.

"Derek keeps seeing her as Marilyn and that's hard when a director sees something -- even if no one else sees it -- there's nothing else that can change that person's mind," McPhee tells The Hollywood Reporter.

STORY: 'Smash' Finale Preview: Who is Best Equipped to Be Marilyn?

Karen's big break, however, doesn't come easy as she's tasked with not only learning the rewrites and last-minute changes but also contending with frenemy Ivy, who isn't happy about being bypassed for the part and confesses to sleeping with Karen's boyfriend, Dev (Raza Jaffrey), after his botched marriage proposal.

"She's paying for a lot of things that I don't think that she necessarily deserves," McPhee says. "Her boyfriend acts in disgusting ways and Ivy tries to redeem herself by being honest with what's happened, but she's despicable herself as well."

After confronting Ivy and Dev, Karen ditches both and, following a pep talk from Derek -- who points out that in addition to having Marilyn's desire now shares heartbreak with the icon -- returns to center stage with a newfound confidence.

Excerpt from:
'Smash' Finale Postmortem: A Marilyn is Crowned Once and for Good

GREGORY Residents will see different, but not quite new, leadership as former councilman Freddy R. Garcia prepares to take over the mayors seat and former Mayor Tino Zambrano sits on the council.

With two years left on his council term, Garcia resigned to face Mayor Victor Lara on Saturdays ballot. The gamble paid off as he won with 44 percent of the vote to Laras 36 percent. Councilwoman Joyce Salinas also ran against Lara and received 20 percent of the vote.

Garcia, 37, is an information technology technician with H-E-B. He was born and raised in Gregory.

He and other citizens have been frustrated, Garcia said, because they were left in the dark on city activities. For example, he said, the city did not release information on finances, and it was unknown what was going in and what was going out.

I also had been big on code enforcement and abandoned lots and we just didnt seem to be going anywhere with that, Garcia said. I would bring up concerns and it seemed like nothing happened.

Former Gregory resident Juan Hernandez Jr., who served on the council several years ago, speculated Lara lacked experience and had personal problems that concerned voters, he said. Lara was arrested in December on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Thats PR; thats representing the city, Hernandez said, adding that Gregory is entering a new era with the $1 billion Tianjin pipe mill plant on the way. There are new jobs coming in and the city needs direction for infrastructure and housing development.

Hernandez said its easy for candidates to talk big before coming into office. They want to change things and make them better.

But theres no budget for it, he said. When I was there, our hands were tied. You just have to help people as much as you can.

Garcia said he has talked with each member of the council and they have the same priorities: improving infrastructure, drainage and fire hydrants. He also plans to focus on code enforcement.

Read more:
Gregory councilman's bid for mayor a success

NEW YORK -- Mark Zuckerberg celebrated turning 28 Monday on the final leg of a roadshow aimed at building demand for Facebooks initial public offering and convincing investors that he can make money from mobile users.

Chief Executive Officer Zuckerberg, along with Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman, will meet potential shareholders in a cross-country tour that includes stops in Chicago and Denver. Facebook engineers, meantime, are putting final touches on products designed to help profit from the 488 million people who access the worlds biggest social network on the go.

Facebook said last week that growth in advertising sales isnt keeping pace with gains in users, many of them logging on from hand-held devices, while some institutional investors have balked at buying Facebook stock, people with knowledge of the matter said. That adds to pressure on company executives to articulate their mobile strategy ahead of the IPO, due this week, said Jay Ritter, a professor at the University of Florida.

In terms of Facebooks valuation, the big issue is whether theyre going to be able to grow to have sustainable profits, said Ritter, who teaches finance in Gainesville. The biggest issue in that regard is the mix of desktop users versus people using their mobile device.

Facebook plans to raise as much as $11.8 billion through the IPO, the biggest ever for an Internet company. Its shares are set to price on Thursday and begin trading under the symbol FB on the Nasdaq the following day. Facebook is offering 337.4 million shares at $28 to $35 apiece, and its seeking a valuation of as high as $96 billion, filings show.

The company plans to stop taking orders for the IPO after U.S. markets close Tuesday, two days ahead of schedule, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction.

Ads shown on mobile devices are smaller, harder to decipher and can be less likely to prompt users to make a purchase. That means they may be less appealing to advertisers and less lucrative than marketing messages on bigger computers.

Growth in use of Facebook through our mobile products, where our ability to monetize is unproven, as a substitute for use on personal computers may negatively affect our revenue and financial results, Facebook says in its IPO filings.

As part of its effort to wring sales from mobile users, Facebook unveiled a new online store last week to help it play catch-up with Apple and Google in the area of applications that can be downloaded onto hand-held devices.

Facebook has began taking developer submissions for its App Center, a curated online store for programs that run on the social network. Facebook would keep a cut of the revenue generated by developers who sell software in the store, helping it diversify away from traditional advertising.

Read more from the original source:
Mobile strategy key to success for Facebook’s IPO

BOCA RATON, Fla., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Public relation's ultimate storytellers have never been faster. Insider Media Management (www.insidermediamanagement.com) is now the PR and marketing firm of record for NASCAR Nationwide series driver Blake Koch (www.blakekoch.com). The raceway speedster is considered one of the best young drivers in the sport. Koch is the latest high profile athlete Insider Media President J.P. Hervis and his team have worked with. "We chose Insider Media because of its successful record of publicity with other athletes, its national media outreach, and integrative marketing ideas," says Mark Koch, Director of Blake Koch, Inc.

"Insider Media is truly proud to represent Blake, a supreme competitor on the track and an exemplary man of faith and family off of it," says Hervis.

The campaign is off to a super speed start. Only days after adding Koch to the exclusive client roster, Insider Media booked the 26 year old on Fox News Channel's popular Fox & Friends program. In front of a national television audience, Koch discussed the controversy involving the loss of his race sponsor and how his outspoken Christian beliefs may have played a role. "The situation had not presented itself before we began working with Blake, it wasn't the original campaign focus," says Hervis. The long-time TV reporter added, "But when the story presented itself, we knew it should be told to the world, and no firm is more successful than Insider Media."

Including several national media appearances, Insider Media's campaign has resulted in dozens of media exposures via print, radio, television and a significant increase in social media followers for Blake Koch. The NASCAR speedstar says, "Insider Media put me in a position to tell an important story to so many people and attract thousands of new fans to my racing and my faith message."

Moving forward, Insider Media will share Blake's personal story faith, family, and racing to media markets where Blake is racing and beyond. "I know Insider Media will be on our team for a long time," added Koch.

About Insider Media Management

Insider Media Management is a full-service communications firm headquartered in South Florida and serving clients nationwide.

Contact: J.P. Hervis, President, Insider Media Management 561.995.6560 JP@insidermediamgmt.com

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Insider Media Racing To More Success with Newest Client, High Profile NASCAR Driver Blake Koch

NEW YORK, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A full slate of complimentary leading industry education is on tap at the New York Spa & Resort/Medical Aesthetics Expo, June 19-20, at the Javits Center in New York, including the latest trends on health and wellness, skin brightening procedures and laser technologies. The Industry Education Theater on the Spa & Resort show floor will provide attendees with up to date access to the latest treatments, devices, trends, and marketing strategies for successful spa operations. Spa & Resort is co-located with HBA Global Expo & Conference and is part of the annual Beauty Week, at New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120514/NY06421 )

Free educational programming for Spa & Resort attendees starts with "Creating a Successful Spa or Medical Practice," presented by Carrie Gross, President & CEO of Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care, on Tuesday, June 19th at 11:00 a.m. A true leader in the medical aesthetics industry, Ms. Gross who currently runs the NYC medical practice, will share her valuable insight and knowledge on best practices with attendees.

"Spa TrendsFocus on Health & Wellness" will be presented by industry veteran Joanne Berry, Director of Spa and Wellness, Bellus Academy, at 12 Noon on Tuesday, June 19th. She will talk about the new paradigm shift from 'pampering' to health 'prevention' and 'promotion' of a healthier lifestyle. This session delivers a glimpse into the future of the industry, giving attendees ideas on how to incorporate these key learnings to boost profitability, increases customer satisfaction, and attract new staffing talent.

Next in the theater will be"Trends in Skin Brightening Procedures, Products & Methods" by Ramona Ray, National Trainer and Educator, Strivection / NIA 24. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the causes of visible skin pigmentation, the market and potential of new ingredient solutions, and current trends in this fastest growing skin care category.

"How To Become A Cosmetic Laser Technician & Build Your Business" will be taught by industry experts Louis Silberman, Founder, and Carolyn Heyland, Director of Education Development, of the National Laser Institute: School of Medical Aesthetics.

Another business-building workshop on the "Evaluation of the Utility of Low-level Laser Therapy for Non-Invasive Body Contouring" will be presented by Ryan Maloney, Zerona. Tuesday's educational programming ends with "Slim Line System Featuring the Vevazz Lipo Light," a complete turnkey weight loss business system showcased by Dr. Jamie Fettig, CEO, Slim Line System.

A popular well-being offering, "Reflexology: A Step into the Future," kicks off the free sessions in the Spa & ResortTheater on Wednesday, June 20th. David Cook, Instructor, International Institute of Reflexology will discuss this unique modality in the health and wellness field and demonstrate the difference between massage and reflexology, and other kinds of manipulative procedure, as well as the history of reflexology, what is new in the field, and where the future is headed with reflexology.

A fun presentation of "Facial Exercise Techniques;" by Cynthia Rowland, Anti-aging Specialist and Creator, Facial Magic will show attendees how to lift their face in seconds, renew skin tone, and see immediate results. Demonstrations on "Bella Contour by Real Aesthetics;" and "Laser Treatment in the MediSpa Safe and Effective with Aerolase;" will also be presented.

Spa & Resort attendees also have access to the Trends Spot Theater (part of the adjacent HBA Global Expo), highlighting the latest in makeup, color, packaging, ingredients, and consumer buying and featuring presentations by professional make-up artists like Eve Pearl, the Eyebrow King, Damone Roberts,Aging Backwards, Jackie Silver and Lady Emmy with Beauty Trends 101.

Read more from the original source:
Spa & Resort/Medical Aesthetics Event Features Latest Trends, Tools & Techniques For Business Success

May 15, 2012, 2:45 p.m.

In front of a modest but engaged audience at a panel discussion about raising young men of color, Sheron Smith, mother of the actor and rapper Mos Def, delivered a message that received an enthusiastic response.

When you have a child, its not about you anymore, she said to applause.

A few minutes later, Brenda Greene, a professor of English at Medgar Evers College and the mother of the rapper Talib Kweli, agreed that parents play a crucial role in their childs upbringing.

We have to take that responsibility or no one else will, she said.

The importance of parental involvement in all aspects of a childs life was a sentiment repeated throughout the panel, which was held at the Fashion Industries High School in Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. The discussion was the closing event of Eagle Week, a weeklong series of activities organized by the Eagle Academy Foundation to inspire and educate young men of color.

Other activities for students from the Eagle Academies for Young Men in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens included a day of community service, a breakfast at Yankee Stadium with speeches from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, and a youth summit featuring book discussions with authors and mentors.

David Banks, president and chief executive officer of the Eagle Academy Foundation, said the goal of the week was for students to be inspired to know that they are special, that they can be all that they want to be.

And many students who showed up to the youth summit on Saturday the event immediately preceding the panel discussion said they had gained a lot from the activities.

I felt good about being out there with my Eagle brothers, said Xavier Thomas, a 17-year-old senior at Eagle Academy in the Bronx. It brought us Eagles closer together.

Read more:
SchoolBook: Panel: Parental Involvement Is Key to Success of Young Men of Color

May 15, 2012, 2:45 p.m.

In front of a modest but engaged audience at a panel discussion about raising young men of color, Sheron Smith, mother of the actor and rapper Mos Def, delivered a message that received an enthusiastic response.

When you have a child, its not about you anymore, she said to applause.

A few minutes later, Brenda Greene, a professor of English at Medgar Evers College and the mother of the rapper Talib Kweli, agreed that parents play a crucial role in their childs upbringing.

We have to take that responsibility or no one else will, she said.

The importance of parental involvement in all aspects of a childs life was a sentiment repeated throughout the panel, which was held at the Fashion Industries High School in Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. The discussion was the closing event of Eagle Week, a weeklong series of activities organized by the Eagle Academy Foundation to inspire and educate young men of color.

Other activities for students from the Eagle Academies for Young Men in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens included a day of community service, a breakfast at Yankee Stadium with speeches from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, and a youth summit featuring book discussions with authors and mentors.

David Banks, president and chief executive officer of the Eagle Academy Foundation, said the goal of the week was for students to be inspired to know that they are special, that they can be all that they want to be.

And many students who showed up to the youth summit on Saturday the event immediately preceding the panel discussion said they had gained a lot from the activities.

I felt good about being out there with my Eagle brothers, said Xavier Thomas, a 17-year-old senior at Eagle Academy in the Bronx. It brought us Eagles closer together.

See the original post here:
Panel: Parent Involvement Is Key to Success of Young Men of Color

In the not-so-distant past, children looked mainly to their fathers for lessons on life outside the home, on how to succeed in business, politics and social organizations. Mom occupied the center of family life and guided us in personal relationships; the values she stressed empathy, kindness, fairness, collaboration didn't seem to guide a dog-eat-dog world.

But times change. Today, success in business often depends more on what our mothers traditionally taught us. In other words, male or female, many of the smartest, most creative and innovative among us are becoming more feminine.

The shift can be seen, in part, in the success of large companies that devote a lot of effort to understanding their customers. Target and Ford are big examples, but it can perhaps best be seen in the success of much-smaller concerns built from the ground up on shared values with their customers.

In the last year we have traveled the world to study companies that are profiting from what we call the feminine way of doing business. In London, we met the (male) founders of Whipcar, who connect private automobile owners with people who will pay to use a vehicle for a few hours or days. Whipcar screens and insures renters, but it's a business founded largely on trust. And it's growing like gangbusters.

In Lima, Peru, we met chef Gaston Acurio, who built a restaurant empire in 12 countries by adapting his mother's recipes and training workers in his own culinary school. Acurio's fame has stimulated an Andean food fad, aiding Peruvian farmers and wholesalers.

In Tokyo we found Motherhouse, maker and retailer of high-end jute and leather handbags and perhaps the ultimate example of the feminine business model.

Motherhouse's founder, Eriko Yamaguchi, wanted to find a way to permanently improve workers' lives in one of the world's poorest nations, Bangladesh. She discovered the country's jute industry and found a factory willing to work with her to combine her designs with its workforce, retrained to produce accessories that would be at home on the Ginza in Tokyo. With six shops in Japan and plans to expand, Motherhouse provides good wages and a safe factory for the workers Yamaguchi calls her firm's "creators." And her customers pay not just to help the poor but to get a bag they really want.

Such cases of "doing well by doing good" would be merely inspiring one-off examples if the world's consumers weren't moving in the same direction. The fact is, they are. As part of our research, we conducted a survey of 40,000 people selected to represent mainstream consumers in 13 countries that represent 75 percent of global gross domestic product. We found that people are weary of us-versus-them leadership and hungry for a kinder, gentler marketplace.

When we asked people to list the qualities they most want in their leaders, men and women both favored traits they termed "feminine" over those they considered "masculine," by better than 2 to 1. Among the highest-ranked were "communicative, reasonable, flexible and patient," which were all strongly associated with the feminine side of human nature.

Several trends in trade and technology support the rising importance of such traits in the marketplace. Social media, for example, make it harder for companies to get away with bad behavior. We're not saying manufacturers don't make shoddy products and service providers don't abuse customers. However, consumers have a much easier time sorting those they want to do business with from those they don't. And businesses that have found a better way have a much easier time telling their stories to the world.

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Mother's (Pay) Day: Businesses find success in adopting traditionally feminine values

AHMEDABAD, INDIA--(Marketwire -05/11/12)- A charismatic persona with immense optimism and composed demeanor is what defines Ms. Parul Thakur, General Manager, at Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad. Forthright in her approach, this soft spoken professional stands tall as the first female general manager in the hospitality industry in the state of Gujarat. Leading the team at one of the most prominent business hotels in Ahmedabad, Parul has brought with her the rich experience of over 12 years at various Marriott properties in the country.

Parul has been a part of the Marriott family since 2002. Before becoming general manager in July 2011, she was the director of operations for the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel in 2010, director of sales & marketing - India for Marriott International in 2008, director of marketing for Renaissance Mumbai & MEA in 2007 and director of sales for Renaissance Mumbai in 2004.

She leads her team with a do-whatever-it-takes attitude which has taken Courtyard by Marriott to newer heights. Her passion towards work is the secret to her success. She proactively interacts with the guests and leaves no stone unturned to make sure they have a comfortable stay. Her eye for detail and ability to find innovative ways around challenges have made Courtyard by Marriott, Ahmedabad stand out amongst luxury hotels in Ahmedabad. Her mantra towards approaching any problem lies in looking over, under and around it.

Parul holds a Bachelor's of Commerce (Honors) from Delhi University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sales & Marketing Management from NIS (Delhi). She started her career in hospitality with Hilton, New Delhi.

A mother of two, she believes in balancing work and personal life by planning all her post work time indulging in fun activities with her daughters and dining out with her husband at the various restaurants in Ahmedabad.

To Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad, Parul brings her rich experience of working in various prominent international hospitality brands. Parul believes a leader should walk the walk, talk the talk, be a good listener and have the ability to take success and failure with equanimity.

There are plenty of Ahmedabad hotel packages available this summer to meet the needs of any traveler. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a personal excursion, India is your destination! With Marriott's latest offer You Play, We Pay, guests are rewarded at all 14 locations in India. Simply spend 2-3 nights at a Marriott and earn credits you can use towards room upgrades, dining services, spa treatments or more. Act quickly because this limited time offer expires August 31. To learn more and book your summer vacation in India visit http://www.marriott.com/specials/mesOffer.mi?marrOfferId=754615&displayLink=true.

Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA with more than 3,700 properties in 73 countries and territories and reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Bulgari, EDITION, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club. There are approximately 300,000 employees at headquarters, managed and franchised properties. Marriott is consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business operations, which it conducts based on five core values: put people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity, and serve our world. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at http://www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit http://www.marriottnewscenter.com.

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General Manager Ms. Parul Thakur Is the Key to Success at Luxury Hotels in Ahmedabad