1.LLOYDS
Address: 1 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HA
t: 020 7327 1000
f: 020 7626 2389
w: www.lloyds.com
e: helpdesk@lloyds.com
Chief officer: Richard Ward, chief executive officer
Year established: 1688
Number of UK offices: 2
Number of UK employees: Approximately 650
Main lines of business: Casualty (28%), property (26%), treaty reinsurance (25%), motor (7%), marine (7%), energy (4%), aviation (3%).
Company history: Lloyd's began in Edward Lloyd's Thames-side coffee house in Tower Street in the City of London. Although the exact date of its establishment is unknown, evidence exists that Lloyd's coffee house was well-known in London business circles by 1688.
Lloyd himself was not involved in insurance but provided premises, reliable shipping news and a variety of services to enable his clientele of ships' captains, merchants and rich men to carry on their business of insuring ships and their cargoes.
The wealthy individuals in the coffee house would each take a share of a risk, signing their names one beneath the other on the policy, together with the amount they agreed to cover. For this reason they were known as 'underwriters'. Lloyd died in 1713 but the coffee house continued to prosper as a centre for marine insurance.
By the end of the 18th century the underwriters had elected a committee and moved to their own premises in the Royal Exchange. Only members of Lloyd's were allowed to accept insurance business.
The Society of Lloyd's was incorporated by the Lloyd's Act 1871 which provided the business with a sound legal basis and laid the foundations for today's market.
By the beginning of the twentieth century the traditional club of marine underwriters had become an international market for insurance risks of almost every type.
Chief officer Biography: Richard Ward joined Lloyd's as chief executive officer in April 2006. Previously, Richard worked for over ten years at the London-based International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), rebranded ICE Futures, as both chief executive officer and vice-chairman. Prior to the IPE, Richard held a range of senior positions at British Petroleum (BP) and was head of marketing & business development for energy derivatives worldwide at Tradition Financial Services. Between 1982 and 1988, Richard worked as a senior physicist with the Science and Engineering Research Council, leading a number of research and development projects.
Richard Ward has a 1st class honours degree in Chemistry, and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Exeter University. He is married with two children and lives in London.
2.AVIVA
Address: St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ
t: 020 7283 2000
e: helpdesk@norwich-union.co.uk
info_aviva@aviva.co.uk
w: www.norwichunion.com
www.aviva.com
Chief officer: Patrick Snowball, executive chairman
Norwich Union Insurance Ltd
Number of UK offices: 52
Number of UK employees: 24,000
Main lines of business: Household, motor, commercial, travel, creditor, pet, roadside assistance
Major shareholders: Norwich Union Insurance is wholly owned by Aviva. As at 8 March 2005, the company's register of substantial shareholdings showed that the holdings exceeding the 3% disclosure threshold were those of Barclays which held an interest of 4.32%, and Legal & General Group which held an interest of 3.72% of the issued ordinary share capital of Aviva plc.
Company history: Norwich Union was founded in Norwich over 200 years ago by Thomas Bignold, a 36-year-old wine merchant and banker. Bignold had been unable to find anyone willing to insure him against the threat from highwaymen. With entrepreneurial thought that nothing was impossible, and aware that in a city built largely of wood the threat of fire was uppermost in people's minds, Bignold formed the Norwich Union Society for the Insurance of Houses, Stock and Merchandise from Fire.
During its bicentenary year, Norwich Union demutualised and floated as a public company on the London Stock Exchange, transforming itself into a FTSE 100 company. The £2.4bn raised in the share offer was the largest sum ever raised in a British sector flotation.
In 2000, Norwich Union merged with CGU to create CGNU plc. The Norwich Union name was retained for the long-term savings and general insurance businesses in the UK.
Aviva, Norwich Union's parent company, recently announced its acquisition of the RAC. The acquisition brings together the RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance.
Chief officer Biography: In May 2005, on behalf of Aviva, Patrick Snowball led the team that acquired the RAC. He was appointed to the Aviva board in March 2001 as chief executive of Norwich Union Insurance. He was previously a director of Norwich Union, having been appointed in October 1999. Snowball first joined the company in 1989.
3.ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
Address:
Churchill Court
Westmoreland Road
Bromley
Kent
BR1 1DP
t: 020 8313 3030
f: 020 8313 5361
w: www.rbs.co.uk
Chief officer:
Annette Court, chief executive
Year established: 2003
Number of UK offices: Over 50
Number of UK employees: 18,500
Major shareholders: Wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland
Main lines of business: Personal and commercial lines
Company history: RBS Insurance was formed on 1 September 2003 after the newly-acquired Churchill Insurance business was brought together with the former Direct Line business by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
RBS Insurance has 13.2 million motor and home policies in the UK and a further 1.6 million motor policies in Europe.
RBS Insurance comprises many well-known brands including Churchill, Direct Line, Privilege, Green Flag Motoring Assistance, UKI Partner- ships, NIG, Devitt, Tracker and Inter Group.
Chief officer Biography: Annette Court was appointed chief executive of RBS Insurance in September 2003, having previously been chief executive of Direct Line.
In 2004, RBS Insurance's total income was £4.9bn - a 52% increase on the previous year - and pre-tax profits were £862m, a 42% increase on 2003. RBS Insurance has a workforce of almost 20,000 people.
Court, 43, joined Direct Line from IBM in 1994 as central planning manager. In 1996, she was appointed motor business manager where she had responsibility for the revenue and profitability of Direct Line's motor insurance business.
In July 1997, Court became managing director, motor insurance. Three years later, following the restructure of the business, she became managing director of Direct Line Insurance, with responsibility for all direct business, including motor, home, life, pet, travel and motor breakdown business. She was appointed chief executive of Direct Line in April 2001 with responsibility for all of Direct Line's retail, partnerships and international businesses.
Prior to joining Direct Line, Court was a client manager for IBM in the insurance sector. She was employed there for 11 years, starting as an engineering graduate from Oxford University.
4. ROYAL & SUN ALLIANCE
UK address:
Leadenhall Court
1 Leadenhall Street
London
EC3V 1PP
t: 0845 077 2772
w: www.royalsun.com
Chief officer:
bridget mcintyre, UK chief executive
Major shareholders: Wholly owned by Royal Insurance Holdings plc
Number of UK offices: Around 30
Number of UK employees:
Around 10,000
Main lines of business: Royal & SunAlliance covers the insurance and risk management needs of a significant number of FTSE 100 companies. It has a full multi-distribution capability, writing business through brokers and corporate partners, direct and online.
Royal & SunAlliance is also one of the UK's top three personal motor and household insurers.
Subsidiaries: Royal Insurance Holdings (holding company). Royal & SunAlliance Insurance (general insurance). British Aviation Insurance Company (57.1%) (general insurance). The Globe Insurance Company (general insurance). The London Assurance (general insurance). The Marine Insurance Company (general insurance). Royal International Insurance Holdings (general insurance). Royal & SunAlliance Reinsurance (general insurance). SunAlliance and London Insurance (general insurance). Sun Insurance Office (general insurance).
Company history: Royal & SunAlliance is one of the world's largest multinational quoted insurance groups, writing business in 130 countries and with major operations in the UK, Scandinavia, Canada, Ireland, the Middle East and Latin America. Focusing on general insurance, it has 26,000 staff and in 2004 its net written premiums were £5.2bn. With a 300-year heritage Royal & SunAlliance is the oldest insurance company in the world still transacting business under its own name.
Chief officer Biography: Bridget McIntyre took up her post as UK CEO at Royal & SunAlliance on 1 November 2005. Prior to this, McIntyre had worked for Norwich Union for 13 years in a variety of roles including finance director of the general insurance business, managing director of London & Edinburgh, finance director of UK Long Term Savings and, most recently, sales, marketing & underwriting director of Norwich Union's general insurance business.
As a qualified chartered management accountant, in her earlier career McIntyre worked in various finance roles at Volvo UK, the publisher Harper Collins and Marconi Radar Systems, having started her career as a finance trainee at Willis Faber.
McIntyre lives on the Suffolk/Norfolk border with her husband Chris and their dog, Berti.
5. ZURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES
Head office:
Zurich Financial Services, Mythenquai 2, PO Box CH-08022, Zurich, Switzerland
UK address:
3000 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, Hants PO15 7JZ
t: 01793 511 227
w: www.zurich.co.uk
Chief officer: Ian Stuart, chief executive UK general insurance (who will retire at the end of 2007 and be replaced by guy munnoch)
Year established: 1872 (Zurich Group)
Number of UK offices: 29 (general insurance only)
Number of UK employees (2003): 6,700 (general insurance)
Main lines of business: Homes; motor; travel; high net worth; twins and multiple births; yacht and motor boats. Commercial property; liability; professional indemnity; fleet; combined insurance; risk services; new home building guarantees; public sector; and bonds
Company history: Zurich Financial Services is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich has offices in more than 50 countries and employs about 62,000 people.
6. AXA
Address:
AXA Insurance
One Aldgate
London
EC3N 1RE
T: 020 7702 3109
F: 020 7369 3909
w: www.axa.co.uk
Chief officer: Peter Hubbard, chief executive
Major shareholders: AXA SA (100%)
Number of UK offices: 23
Number of UK employees: 4,000
Main lines of business: Personal lines: motor; home; travel; pet; motorcycle; caravan; pleasure craft; creditor; and warranty.
Commercial lines: commercial property; property owners; commercial motor; employers' liability; public liability; business interruption.
Company history: AXA has a strong, long-standing history. The group can trace its roots right back to the 18th century. After a succession of mergers, acquisitions and name changes involving some of the leading insurance companies in the UK and around the world, the name AXA was first introduced in 1985.
In recent years:
1985: The name AXA is created and Mutuelles Unies is rebranded.
1986: AXA Universite is launched. Its objective is to provide managers with a clear vision of the group's strategy, helping them to lead and develop their staff.
1987: Compagnie du Midi acquires Equity & Law.
1988: AXA merges with the Compagnie du Midi and is traded on the Paris Stock Exchange. UAP becomes a major shareholder in Sun Life, in the UK. GRE acquires the leading Irish general insurer, PMPA Insurance.
1990: AXA Insurance formed in Cardiff.
1991: AXA takes over The Equitable, the North American life assurance firm.
1996: AXA is listed on New York Stock Exchange and Sun Life and Provincial Holdings (SLPH) is listed on the London Stock Exchange. On 12 November the AXA - UAP merger is announced. SLPH is now part of the global AXA group and is its major subsidiary in the UK. GRE acquires RAC Insurance Services.
1998: AXA wins the sponsorship of the FA Cup in the UK.
1999: In February, SLPH announces a public offer for GRE and the acquisition is completed in May.
2000: On 12 July AXA completes the acquisition of the minority shareholding in Sun Life and Provincial Holdings - which is consequently delisted from the London Stock Exchange. On 29 September the name of the holding company changes to AXA UK plc.
Chief officer Biography: Peter Hubbard took the helm at AXA Insurance when he joined AXA UK at the end of 2001. He has a clear vision for the future of the business and of the insurance industry as a whole.
A committed moderniser, Hubbard is determined that AXA should be at the forefront of a new breed of insurance company - drawing on diverse skills and new technologies to put the customer experience at the heart of the business.
7. AIG
Address:
The AIG Building
58 Fenchurch Street,
London
EC3M 4AB
T: 020 7954 7000
F: 020 7954 7001
W: www.AIG.co.uk
e: enquiries.london@aig.com
Chief officer: Daniel Glaser, managing director
AIG Europe (UK) Ltd
Year established: 1953
Parent: American International Group Inc (AIG)
Number of UK branch offices: 10
Number of UK staff: approx. 1,500
Number of UK general insurance agents: 1,500
Main lines of business: Accident and health; aviation; casualty, energy; financial lines; property; trade and political risk; environmental; crisis management; marine and mergers; and acquisitions
Subsidiaries: UNAT Direct Insurance Management; AIG Medical & Rehabilitation
Company history: AIG Europe (UK) is an appointed representative for New Hampshire Insurance Company and Landmark Insurance Company. Based in London, it has been providing insurance solutions for UK businesses, public sector organisations and individuals for over 50 years.
During this period it has developed new products to keep up with ever-changing needs of modern businesses, including management, internet and environmental liabilities, employee benefits and crisis management protection.
Its innovation and extensive local underwriting experience underpins its ability to provide genuinely differentiated products to meet the needs of UK brokers and their clients.
Other key personnel:
Mike Giblin, assistant managing director;
Mike Whitwell, assistant managing director;
Steve Eckhardt, claims; Nicola Maclennan, marketing; Nigel Childs, finance; Alan Reid, major risks; Tom Doherty, corporate risks; Dan Tooley, SME risks
8. ACE EUROPEAN GROUP
Address:
The Ace Building
100 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 3BP
t: 020 7173 7000
f: 020 7173 7800
e: info.ch@ace-ina.com
w: www.aceeuropeangroup.com
Chief officer: Andrew Kendrick, chairman and chief executive
Year established: 1985
Number of UK offices: 10
Number of UK employees: 1,096
Main lines of business: Property and casualty; accident and health; aviation; captives; energy; directors' and officers'; technical lines; claims; political risk and credit; marine; financial institutions; professional lines
Subsidiaries: Ace Underwriting Agencies (Ace Global Markets Syndicate 2488); Ace Tempest Re (Europe)
Company history: Ace European Group is part of the global Ace Group of Companies which was formed in 1985. The Ace Group of Companies is one of the world's leading global commercial property and casualty insurance companies, with offices in 53 countries and correspondents in another 92. It carries A+ ratings from Standard and Poor's and AM Best, and is a component of the S&P 500 stock index.
Ace European Group has FSA permissions to underwrite all 18 classes of insurance and reinsurance business through its established branch network in 16 countries, Freedom of Services permissions to underwrite business in 27 European countries, excess and surplus lines eligibility in 37 US states and the ability to underwrite reinsurance in most countries.
Chief officer Biography: Andrew Kendrick was appointed to the position of chairman and chief executive, Ace European Group in November 2004. In his role he oversees Ace's operations in 16 European countries and the activities of over 1,800 employees. Prior to his appointment, he served as president and chief executive, Ace Bermuda.
Kendrick joined Ace in 1996, after over 25 years of insurance industry experience. Originally working in London, his previous position at Ace was as director of underwriting and active underwriter of Syndicate 2488 at Lloyd's, which forms Ace Global Markets.
Kendrick started his career at Sturge Syndicate 210 in 1978. With a focus on underwriting the financial institutions account, he held various positions within that syndicate and other syndicates owned by the Sturge Group. Kendrick has worked at Ace since Ace purchased Ockham Underwriting Agency (previously known as Sturge Underwriting Agency.
9. ALLIANZ CORNHILL
Address:
57 Ladymead
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 1DB
T: 01483 301770
F: 01483 578404
W: www.allianzcornhill.co.uk
Chief officer: Andrew Torrance, chief executive
Major shareholder: Allianz AG
Number of UK offices: 22
Number of UK employees: 4,500
Main lines of business:
Commercial lines; personal lines; and speciality business
Subsidiaries: DBI Ins Co; Domestic Ins Services; Pet Plan; Trafalgar Insurance
Company history: Cornhill Insurance was founded in 1905 by the directors of Willis Faber. The company changed its name to Allianz Cornhill in 2003.
The company began underwriting motor insurance in 1924 and opened its head office in Guildford in 1953. In 1977 the company began its 23-year sponsorship of English test match cricket and in 1986 the company was acquired by the German financial services giant, Allianz AG, based in Munich. In 2004 Allianz Cornhill was voted General Insurer of the Year and in the following year repeated this success in the company's centenary year.
Chief officer Biography: Andrew Torrance joined Allianz Cornhill in April 1999 as general manager - Allianz Cornhill broker division, and was appointed as a director of the company at the same time. He took over as chief executive in July 2003.
Torrance previously spent six years with London & Edinburgh Insurance, the last three years as chief executive.
The first part of Torrance's career was with Boston Consulting where he spent 16 years in all; during the period 1984 to 1992 he was a partner in its London office focusing on the financial services industry. During this time he consulted to leading general insurance companies in the UK, Spain and South Africa.
Torrance has a Master's degree from the London Business School and an MA from the University of Cambridge where he specialised in theoretical physics. Currently, Torrance is chairman of the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham).
Torrance has lived in central London since 1974. His main interests are watching most sports, playing social tennis, food and wine. He is married with a daughter and a son.
10 MUNICH RE
Address:
MUNCHENER RUCKVERSICHERUNGS-GESELLSCHAFT
KONIGINSTRASSE 107
80802 MUNICH
GERMANY
t: +49 893891-0
W: WWW.MUNICHRE.COM
Chief officer: torsten jeworrek, chairman of reinsurance committee
DAS LEGAL EXPENSES
DAS is one of the primary insurance companies of Munich Re.
Address:
DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Co
DAS House
Quay Side, Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6NH
t: 0117 934 2000 / 2109
E: marketing@das.co.uk
w: www.das.co.uk
Chief officer: Paul Asplin ACII, ceo
Year established: 1975
Number of UK offices: 5
Number of UK employees: 400+
Number of UK general insurance agents: 2,500+
Main lines of business: Legal expenses
DAS company history: 1975: DAS (UK) was formed as a joint venture between Phoenix Assurance (now Royal & SunAlliance) and DAS Deutsche Automobile Schutz of Munich. Family legal expenses policy introduced as a stand alone policy. DAS then had 20 employees and a premium income of £50,000.
1977: Commercial legal protection policy introduced in response to increasing workplace legislation in the 1970s.
1978: Uninsured loss recovery scheme was introduced in response to brokers' need for an easier method of recovering a client's uninsured losses.
1985: Twenty-four hour legal advice helpline launched, giving consumers an alternative choice in the legal marketplace.
1989: DAS Munich bought the 50% SunAlliance shareholding to obtain a 100% shareholding of DAS UK. DAS Corporate Business Department established to forge closer links with existing and potential major clients.
1990: The DAS Motor Claims Centre was opened in Bedwas, near Caerphilly, South Wales, in response to the growing success of the DAS ULR products. DAS House in Bristol becomes the company's new UK head office.
1992: DAS Services was launched to provide stand-alone advice and assistance services in response to the growing business.
1996: Motor Apres, after-the-event ULR cover, was launched. DAS opened an office in Dublin and began providing motor, household and commercial policies for the Irish market.
1997: A custom designed call centre was opened in DAS House. Motorists Legal Protection was acquired and renamed MLP Legal Protection. DAS Munich was acquired by ERGO and DAS UK was restructured as DAS UK Holdings. The company was awarded Investors In People accreditation.
1998: Full ISO accreditation was awarded throughout the company. Work began on a new building at Bedwas to house the expanding motor claims centre.
1999: One millionth claim handled at the Bedwas motor claims centre.
2001: 80e, the after-the-event (ATE) division, opened to provide reliable products for the troubled ATE market.
2003: DAS becomes the first insurer to achieve ISO 14001 environmental management accreditation.
2004: DAS passes the £100m GWP milestone.
Chief officer Biography: Paul Asplin has worked for DAS for nearly 30 years. He joined the company as an underwriting clerk, then working in its sales department, including managing the DAS offices in Manchester and London.
He later returned to the Bristol head office as general manager. Asplin assumed the position of managing director in February 1999 and became group chief executive in 2005.
11. HBOS
Registered office:
Trinity Road
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX1 2RG
t: 01422 333829
f: 01422 333 007
w: www.halifax.co.uk/insurance
Chief officer: Tom Woolgrove, managing director, HBOS General Insurance
Major shareholders: HBOS General Insurance is a member of the HBOS Group
Number of UK offices: 6
Number of UK employees: around 2,000
Main lines of business: HBOS General Insurance provides an extensive range of insurance products including household, travel, healthcare, pet and repayment insurance
Subsidiaries: Halifax Insurance Ireland. Halifax General Insurance. St Andrew's Insurance. St Andrew's Life Assurance. St Andrew's Memberships Services. Mentor Professional Services. Mircah.
Company history: Halifax General Insurance Services was established in 1996. HBOS General Insurance - which consists of Halifax General Insurance, Halifax Insurance Ireland and St Andrew's Group - was formed as a result of the merger between Bank of Scotland and Halifax in 2001.
Chief officer Biography: Appointed as managing director of HBOS General Insurance in July 2005, Rob Devey joined HBOS in 2002 as head of banking within the retail division from Boston Consulting, where he worked on the team that supported the merger of Halifax and BoS. In 2004, Devey became head of personal lending and protection, responsible for unsecured lending and repayments insurance for the Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands.
12. QBE
Address:
QBE Insurance (Europe)
Plantation Place
30 Fenchurch Street
London EC3M 3BD
t: 020 7105 4000
f: 020 7105 4019
e: enquiries@qbe-europe.com
w: www.qbe.com
Chief officer: Steven Burns, chief executive, QBE European operations
All figures quoted relate to the UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe) and QBE Insurance Company (UK), which form part of QBE European operations.
Year established: 1886
Main lines of business: QBE International Insurance and QBE Insurance Company (UK) write the following commercial lines: bloodstock and equine; casualty treaty; credit surety and political risk; asset protection; general liability; leisure and sport; marine treaty; motor treaty; motor fleet; personal accident; personal accident treaty; product protection and warranty; property; property treaty; speciality and professional lines; trade credit; UK employers' liability; UK public liability; professional liability.
Number of UK employees: 603
Company history: QBE European operations offers commercial insurance and reinsurance in the company market and operates in Lloyd's via Limit Underwriting. It is one of four divisions which comprise QBE Insurance Group.
Established in 1886, QBE Insurance Group is one of the world's leading international insurance and reinsurance groups. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the group consists of diversified insurance and reinsurance activities, operating out of 42 countries worldwide with a gross written premium of £3,941m and holds shareholders' funds of £2,133m to year end 2005.
QBE's principal operating subsidiaries are rated A+ by Standard and Poor's and A+ by Fitch Ratings.
13 NFU
Address:
Tiddington Road
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 7BJ
t: 01789 204211
f: 01789 298992
w: www.nfumutual.co.uk
Chief officer: Ian Geden, FCII, Group chief executive
Number of UK offices: Over 300 local offices based in rural towns and villages throughout the UK
Number of UK employees: 3,320
Main lines of business:
Business, motor and personal insurance
Company history: For over 90 years, NFU Mutual has been the name trusted by people who value the countryside. With over 300 local offices based in rural towns and villages throughout the UK, it has become part of the fabric of rural life and remains committed to serving the needs of people who live or work in the countryside.
Building on its traditional farming heritage, NFU Mutual has grown and diversified to become the country's leading rural insurer offering a wide range of insurance services backed by local service.
With assets under management of more than £8.5bn and an enviable reputation for fair dealing and quality service, it is the natural choice for many people who live in or do business in the countryside.
Chief officer biography: Ian Geden joined NFU Mutual in Stratford as a professional trainee in 1969 and has held a wide range of positions throughout the group. He was appointed an assistant general manager in December 1996 after two years as regional manager, Anglia, and became general manager in January 1998.
He was appointed to NFU Mutual's board of directors in 1999 and succeeded Andrew Young as managing director at the beginning of 2002. In March 2005 Geden's job title changed to group chief executive.
14 XL CAPITAL
Address:
XL House
70 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0XL
t: 020 7933 7000
f: 020 7469 1000
e: david.gallagher@xlgroup.com
w: www.xlcapital.com
Chief officer: Don baker, chief operating officer
Year established: 1986
Number of UK employees: About 300
Main lines of business: Property; casualty; marine; directors' and officers'; errors and omissions; environmental; energy; aviation; equine; fine art.
Company history: From its origin as a writer of excess liability insurance, XL Insurance has grown into one of the world's pre-eminent writers of commercial insurance.
XL Capital is a public holding company quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. XL Insurance Company, an XL Capital company, is a UK-registered EU-carrier which writes primarily global risk management property/casualty insurance for large national and multinational corporations.
Led by Clive Tobin, chief executive of XL Capital's insurance operations, XL Insurance today operates in 25 countries with more than $6bn in premium written in 2004. It is a global provider of primary to excess commercial insurance and is viewed as a global strategic partner for many companies.
