What’s new: In brief (September 19, 2004)

A survey of risk managers by the U.K.’s Association of Insurance & Risk Managers (AIRMIC) finds 21% have registered as insurance intermediaries under the new European Union Insurance Mediation Directive. The directive, which will be enforced by the U.K. Financial Services Authority, comes in to force at the beginning of 2005. However, many of the risk managers who have registered are involved in businesses which sell insurance, the survey found.

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has opened two new rural claims centers, in Winkler and Beausejour. The two state-of the art centers will serve about 50,000 policyholders and bring the total number of MPI claims centers to 17 (12 rural centers and 5 in Winnipeg). The centers are also unique in employing geothermal heat recovery systems, which reduce energy consumption 60-70%, MPI notes.

Risk managers meet in Winnipeg for the 29th Annual RIMS Canada Conference, October 2-6. Among this year’s feature is an interactive “Risk Management Idol” where delegates will choose the topics to be discussed electronically by a panel of broker, insurer and reinsurer experts. For more information visit http://rimscanada.rims.org.