Zurich Insurance Co. might want to try buying Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s motto, "The Quiet Company."
Zurich began providing West Virginia agencies with workers' compensation insurance on Oct. 1 without a ribbon-cutting ceremony, advertisements or even a press release.
Zurich won a one-year contract last month with a $19 million bid. State agencies paid nearly $16.8 million in premiums last year when Charleston-based BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. covered them.
As part of its contract, Zurich will provide agencies with workplace safety programs.
When Michael Riley, West Virginia's acting insurance commissioner, announced the contract award last month, he said, "They believe they can make changes here and we think so, too. We are dedicated to bringing safety and an improved work environment for our employees. They [Zurich] will be going out, visiting agencies, doing on-site safety inspections."
Asked for details, Bill Meyerholt, regional manager-casualty for Zurich Global Corporate in North America, said in a Sept. 8 email, "Our risk engineering team will evaluate the agencies and deliver a program to address the inherent risks in their operations."
Riley said last month that an important consideration in the state's deliberations was making sure bidders have networks in place to provide health and rehabilitation services to injured workers.
Asked about its West Virginia networks, Meyerholt said in that Sept. 8 email, "We actively review the medical networks in each state we operate and work with various networks."
Meyerholt also said at the time, "We are excited to build a strong relationship with the state of West Virginia and bring our workers' compensation products and solutions to the state. While we currently work with other customers in the state, we feel writing the state's insurance is a strong indication of our capabilities and commitment to serving West Virginia."
Riley said last month that the state has been dealing with Zurich's office in Pittsburgh.
Asked if Zurich plans on opening an office in West Virginia, Meyerholt said last month, "We are assessing our staffing needs now and will continue to do so in order to ensure a high level of service for the state of West Virginia, as well as all of our customers in the state."
Zurich has been repeatedly asked for more details. Will it open an office in West Virginia? Will it hire more staff? Who will head its West Virginia operations? What is the company doing in the way of safety programs?
On Thursday Zurich spokesman Jeff Casale emailed to say, "Based on a few exchanges I've had with our workers' comp team, I don't think we have any further comment right now, outside of what you wrote in your initial story. I'll keep you posted if that changes."
Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. A company fact sheet says it is the fifth-largest writer of workers' compensation insurance in North America.
Big but quiet. Very quiet.
