LIMRA and LOMA, together at last

LIMRA International and LOMA have received approval from their member companies to merge their two insurance trade organizations. The merger will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2008. Member companies of Windsor, Conn-based LIMRA, the marketing research group, were unanimously in favor of the merger, with 144 approving it. Those in Atlanta-based LOMA, which concentrates on training, overwhelmingly agreed as well, with 165 in favor, six opposed and one abstention. The two groups will join under the umbrella of LL Global Inc., also of Windsor, Conn., but each organization will keep its individual name and operate at its own headquarters. All LIMRA and LOMA members will also become members of LL Global. Robert A. Kerzner, president and chief executive of LIMRA, will helm LL Global. Thomas P. Donaldson, LOMA’s president and chief executive, will act as chairman of new entity’s executive committee until he retires at the end of 2008. Susan Waring, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at State Farm Life Insurance Co., will chair LL Global’s board of directors. Ms. Waring is also the vice president of State Farm Health. Mr. Kerzner has also selected a new senior management team from both groups to work with him.