LIMRA International Learning Institute Created to Deliver all LIMRA Development Programs Outside of North America.

Business/Technology Editors

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2001

LIMRA International announced today the formation of the LIMRA International Learning Institute (LILI) to deliver LIMRA's management training and development programs in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Asia Pacific/Oceania region.

"The LIMRA International Learning Institute will bring all our development capabilities together under a single umbrella and, at the same time, enhance LIMRA's position throughout the international marketplace as the leader in learning and performance development," said Tom Kelly, executive vice president and head of LIMRA's International Business Center.

Kelly made the announcement at the LIMRA International 2001 Annual Meeting here, which brought together leaders of insurance and financial companies from around the world. The LILI will encompass four areas:

-- Performance Consultation: Expertise in identifying, designing, developing and delivering customized learning and development programs.

-- Executive Development: Learning products and service offerings to senior executives.

-- Management: Learning products and services associated with all management issues worldwide.

-- Distribution: Non-management learning programs packaged and designed for those who distribute products, including agents, brokers, bank representatives and others.

Creation of the LILI will apply LIMRA's expertise throughout the international marketplace with consistency and flexibility in all countries or markets where LIMRA offers services. It also opens opportunities for partnerships with local universities and educational institutions located throughout the international marketplace, Kelly said.

LILI will enable LIMRA to take full advantage of technology for delivering services. For example, LIMRA International has partnered with ZEE Interactive Learning Systems, Ltd. Of Mumbai, India, to facilitate learning in India following the recent opening up of that country's insurance market.

"This is an exciting venture that gives us the opportunity to deliver our programs via satellite transmission, classroom instruction and Internet communications," Kelly said. ZEE and LIMRA are scheduled to deliver their first class in December.

LIMRA's worldwide educational programs include the Chartered Insurance Agency Manager (CIAM) and Strategies for Executive Advancement. LIMRA recently conferred its 500th CIAM designation to a field manager of a member company in Hong Kong, and currently has some 2,000 individuals working toward the designation. The "Strategies" program leads to the designation of LLIF (LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow) for senior executives.

"In the coming year, we will introduce yet another program to build on the CIAM designation, geared to the global shift to broad financial planning," Kelly said. "We've consulted with member companies and are using their feedback and input to create this management-level program."

LIMRA will also form regional or national alumni groups and advisory panels to help guide LILI activities in their own country and encourage growth of learning, Kelly said.

"I am confident of the success of this new initiative because we are acting from a position of strength, building on a firm foundation, and responding to the needs of our constituency," Kelly said. "We are following a vision of an organizational structure that will, in the years to come, maintain LIMRA International's place in the forefront of development of insurance and financial management and executive leadership."

LIMRA International is a worldwide association of insurance and financial services companies established in 1916 to help its members improve their marketing and distribution effectiveness. LIMRA International provides research, consulting and other services to more than 800 members in 68 countries. For more information, visit the LIMRA International website at www.limra.com.