What’s New: In Brief (December 04, 2009)

Etienne Dubé has returned to lead Aon Consulting Canada’s financial risk consulting (FRC) practice.
He has been working out of the Montreal office since Nov. 23.
The FRC practice offers customized strategic risk management and investment advice solutions, by identifying, quantifying and managing not only funding and investment risks, but all aspects of a client’s plan design including associated governance risks.
Prior to returning to Aon, Dubé led pension activities of the LDI (Liability-Driven Investing) solutions group at National Bank where he was responsible for sales and product development.

Zurich Group Holding (ZGH) has merged into Zurich Financial Services Ltd.
This is a step towards the rationalization of Zurich Financial Services Group holding legal entity structure.
To enable this transaction, Allied Zurich Ltd., a 100%-owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services Ltd, had already sold its 42.3% share in ZGH to Zurich Financial Services Ltd on Aug. 19, 2009.
As two layers of holding companies were effectively taken out, Zurich Financial Services Ltd is now the immediate holding company of Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, the group’s main operating company.
The further simplification will increase the group’s flexibility and transparency and enable it to manage its capital and dividend flow more effectively, the company says.
There is no impact on the consolidated financial position of Zurich.