ACORD Names Chief Standards Officer

The ability of insurance companies to succeed in addressing the hottest technology trends in the industry -- the opportunities and challenges around big data; embrace of new channels and platforms, primarily mobile and social media; and the imperative to modernize core systems -- relies to a great extent on the acceptance of standards, both industry-specific and technology-related. So it's timely that ACORD, the Pearl River, N.Y.-based insurance data and forms standards group, has named Monique Hesseling vice president and chief standards officer, a new position.

Hesseling, who most recently was global head of personal lines segment marketing at Zurich General Insurance, will oversee standards development, implementation and related services at ACORD. She brings a long-standing involvement in ACORD to her new role, having served the organization for many years in various capacities, most recently as Chair of the ACORD Standards Committee. "Monique has a unique international background combined with a business savvy that values technology," said ACORD President & CEO Gregory Maciag, in a statement. "Her European and multinational background provides a global business perspective that will complement our team. She focuses on solving business problems and that must always be the core of industry standards."

[The role of standards in insurers' strategies in the emerging multi-channel, data-driven, cloud-based competitive environment was a key focus at last year's ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum; the 2013 Insurance Systems Forum takes place May 6-8 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas .]

At Zurich, Hesseling was responsible for developing new propositions for consumer products in areas including future mobility, telematics, e-cars and future living. Most recently, she was engaged in product development initiatives for European markets and Latin America, and represented the insurance industry in the EU's E-Motion initiative. She previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Branch Operations for 16 offices in 10 nations at Zurich's Global Energy business.

Hesseling's previous positions include VP of Global Research & Development at ACE, VP of Research and Business Intelligence at Mutual of Omaha Companies, and Marketing Director, International Financial Services at Cigna.

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio