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Executive Vice President
Industry Leader--Tech & Telecom
Willis HRH, Austin, Texas

Bridging the Gap

Sara Benolken, industry leader for technology and telecommunications for Willis HRH, is known not only for her expertise in insurance, but also for her ability to apply creative solutions in tech and telecom.

"Every time we've asked her, she's come up with some outside-of-the-box solution or some kind of innovative way to redo something or reanalyze something, and it's always worked for us," said one risk manager at a major technology concern. "Technology and insurance tend to be diametrically opposed, but she can bridge the gap."

Benolken is also known for developing an in-depth understanding of her customers' businesses and risks.

"Risk managers need a broker who understands the exposures associated with their industry and is familiar with the risks of their particular company," said one risk manager, who also praised her blend of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment.

Clients also appreciate Benolken's work in developing new analytic tools that help them better identify and mitigate their risks.

"Rather than categorizing risks as traditional or alternative, Sara views them in the same way as her clients--in terms of significance," said another risk manager. "She works with her clients through every stage of the life cycle to continuously refine their risk management program, thereby turning technology risk into business opportunity."

Vice President--National Technology Industry Specialist
Marsh, Atlanta
brian.d.brown@marsh.com

This Brown Can Do Plenty for You

Brian Brown wins praise from clients for his understanding of their businesses and risks as well as for excellent customer service.

"We had a local broker who did not really understand our business," said one risk manager, "and Brian came in and took apart our old insurance program and built a state-of-the-art program that does not have any redundancies. He added additional coverage that was being overlooked and really streamlined us so we are a lean, mean fighting machine in 2008."

"You can't have a better go-to person that can look at what we do and explain it to the underwriter and help make our case with the underwriter," the risk manager said.

Brown also is known for his ability to get things done for customers.

"Brian Brown with Marsh, Atlanta stands out ... not only because of his background actually writing policy language but also because of his ability to get not only what we have needed from the markets at renewal but also a great deal of what we have wanted--all for a fair price," said another risk manager.

Brown also wins credit for being able to solve difficult problems for his customers.

"Whenever I have a real difficult issue--a lot of time it's international contracts and international insurance wording and things like that which we're not that familiar with, we rely on people like Brian to help us through that," said another risk manager.

Managing Director
Corporate E&O Practice Leader
Aon, New York
dominic_davison-jenkins@ars.aon.com

Intellectual Capacity Unleashed

Dominic J. Davison-Jenkins brings a global perspective to working with clients in the technology and telecommunications sector that blends traditional insurance, captive financing and self funding. His dedication to helping his customers through complex, multinational insurance issues has inspired loyalty among his clients.

"He is probably the only one whom I have followed when he changed brokerages a few years back, something I typically would otherwise not do," said one risk manager for a multinational telecommunications company. "It is evident that he has consistently added value to my organization."

Davison-Jenkins scores high marks for his ability to work with corporate legal departments and to analyze coverage proposals to ensure that they work best for the client.

"Dominic has an unmatched ability to articulate intellectual property insurance issues to our intellectual protocol lawyers, who are usually skeptical of insurance industry specialists," the risk manager said. "Likewise, when it comes to telecom errors and omissions, Dominic will be the one to read through your insurance policy verbiage and advise why it is likely to work - or not - in a given contract breach situation."

Davison-Jenkins, who holds a Ph.D., also wins praise among clients for his ability to develop integrated insurance solutions involving captives.

Managing Director
Aon, New York
paul_kim@ars.aon.com

A Head Ahead of the Snowball

Paul Kim, a New York-based managing director at Aon, is known among his clients for both his deep knowledge of the insurance industry as well as his understanding of their industries.

"Paul Kim really stands out for me," said one telecommunications risk manager. "It really revolves around his technical ability in terms of understanding not only the markets that we deal with but also our industry as well."

Kim won praise from clients for keeping them well apprised of the turmoil in the financial and insurance industries over the past year.

"During this year, one thing has been all the issues with the security of the insurers, and I feel like he was ahead of the snowball rolling," the risk manager said. "It's good from a standpoint of being able to advise your company management that things are coming."

Kim, who joined Aon in 1997, also gets credit for customer service and problem solving from clients.

"Personally, I rate him excellent on that score (client service) because of trying to be ahead of things, but also his availability," the risk manager said. "He always responds."

Before joining Aon, Kim was a vice president at Minet Risk Services, a vice president at Marsh, a senior underwriter at AIG's National Union Fire Insurance Co. and a bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Managing Director
Marsh, Atlanta
valynda.murphy@marsh.com

A Broker Whose Bonds are Her Words

Valynda Murphy wins praise from her clients in the telecommunications industry for dealing with underwriters and obtaining the best possible wordings on policies.

"She's excellent, especially with anything to do with an underwriter, or in particular a wording or manipulation of wording to get the best advantage," said one telecommunications risk manager. "She knows the way to add this, change this, change that, to get the best value for you. She came up with some innovative wording that we've included ever since."

Murphy's expertise grows out of more than 20 years as a specialist in the communications, media and technology industries.

Murphy joined Marsh in 1998 as the communications, media and technology specialist leader after working as the national underwriting officer at USF&G and managing the Southeast technology practice for St. Paul Insurance Co. For telecommunications companies today, Murphy sees a major concern being the impact of the convergence of technology, media and communications in changing risk profiles.

Among clients, Murphy also draws plaudits for customer service and her ability to work with senior management.

"She follows up every day. Nothing gets left behind. All the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. She's a class act," the risk manager said. "I find her extremely good to have in board meetings and high-level presentations."

Managing Director, National Property Leader
Aon, New York
Alfred_tobin@ars.aon.com

Tenacious Al

Al Tobin has without doubt built a solid reputation among clients in the telecommunications industry.

"(Al) has shown creativity, tenacity and expertise in the telecommunications field," said a risk manager at a major telecommunications company.

Tobin, who was named a Power Broker^TM twice before, worked over the past year to address customer concerns about carrier stability and the impact of the federal bailout on the insurance industry.

He helped to develop a suite of programs that provide customers with new catastrophic property solutions at a very challenging time for the market. These products were developed by Tobin and his team through weeks of face-to-face meetings with underwriters in the United States, London and Bermuda.

Tobin has been recognized as an Aon Excellence Round Table award winner for the past five years.

Tobin, who has been a speaker at the Institutional Investors Conference for the past three years, also has been dedicated to educating customers and markets. He was host and emcee for the 2008 Property Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., the industry's premier event for catastrophic property education. The event attracted more than 100 underwriters and more than 150 customers from around the world.

Tobin joined Aon in 1995. He previously worked at Arkwright, Alexander and AIG.