ABD to Co-Host the Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) Conference in San Francisco, CA on April 17-20, 2013

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Worldwide Broker Network, and its WBN member partner ABD Insurance and Financial Services, the local co- host, announced today that they will hold their Global Owners conference in San Francisco from April 17-20, 2013, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Nob Hill.

“I have been actively involved with the WBN since its founding over 20 years ago, and have seen its growth explode as the global insurance industry moves rapidly to position itself to service the risks and needs of the international business world.”

More than 200 attendees have registered for the WBN event, which will focus on the most relevant Property & Casualty, Employee Benefit, and Global Business topics throughout the world today. The event which is held the week before the 2013 U.S. RIMS in Los Angeles, will allow many of the WBN Partners from around the globe to coordinate visits to the numerous U.S. based multi-national company’s whom they service. The WBN partners who currently number 90 member firms represent the major regions of North America, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East/North Africa.

The WBN Insurance Carrier partners who participate on a global basis include: AIG, Chubb, Travelers, Zurich, Navigators, RSA, Lloyds of London, CNA, XL, Allianz, AEGON, C.V. Starr, One Beacon, MetLife, Aetna, Cigna, Insurope, and VSP.

The conference will also include several break-out sessions specifically designed for employee benefits brokers from all over the world. "We are very pleased to welcome the largest group of global Employee Benefits professionals in the history of the Network,” said Andrew Sterngold, Managing Director Global Benefits for the Worldwide Broker Network. "We will continue making considerable investments in the network to face the challenges companies have with their international employee benefits programs."

Bruce Basso, the Chairman of the WBN, is thrilled to host this international symposium close to home. “I have been actively involved with the WBN since its founding over 20 years ago, and have seen its growth explode as the global insurance industry moves rapidly to position itself to service the risks and needs of the international business world.”

Our WBN “Speaker Series”, continues its tradition of inviting accomplished industry and business leaders to speak to our WBN members. In San Francisco we have the distinct pleasure of having Mr. Tom Motamed, Chairman and CEO of the CNA Companies, to share his thoughts on the challenges of the insurance industry and the global business world.

“The WBN has never been stronger. The global technology industry, with its unique demands, appreciates the service, the technology, and the seemless nature of the exceptional WBN network,” stated Brian Hetherington, CEO of ABD Insurance and Financial Services.

“We are thrilled to deliver an amazing attendee experience. We will explore topics such as the impact of technology on insurance, concierge client engagement, the use of social media in marketing and sales, and how to respond to our global client’s ever-changing needs,” said Kurt de Grosz, President of ABD Insurance and Financial Services.

WBN is a global network of independent insurance brokers and employee benefits consultants, and has over 500 offices worldwide in almost 90 countries, and generates premiums in excess of $28 billion US dollars.

ABD Insurance and Financial Services

Headquartered in San Mateo, with offices in San Francisco, Redwood City and San Jose, ABD is an insurance consulting collective with more than 75 years of history in the insurance industry. ABD has over 115 dedicated professionals, many of them nationally recognized as among the best and the brightest in the insurance industry. We provide individuals and businesses with consulting in the disciplines of Employee Benefit programs, 401k services, Wellness, Risk Management, Property & Casualty insurance, Directors & Officers insurance, and Personal Insurance. To learn more visit www.theABDteam.com.