Location: United States

Cunningham Lindsey launches inTrust in the US

inTrust expansion into the US leverages existing global brand and capabilities  

Dallas, Texas (April 6, 2016) – Cunningham Lindsey, a leading global loss adjusting and claims management company, is pleased to announce the expansion of its global Third Party Administration (TPA) service inTrust into the United States.

inTrust provides clients with a single point of entry to a TPA service where claims are centrally reported and managed globally for multiple classes of business. This division offers full program, management information and payment management for multiple currencies with access to live claims data and customized reporting via a self-service portal.  The launch of inTrust in the US builds upon the existing success of this service currently managed by dedicated desktop teams across 10 hubs on 5 continents that deliver tailored TPA services 24/7 for claims spanning property, casualty, marine, motor and accident and health.

“At Cunningham Lindsey, we recognize the bespoke claims management needs of our clients are vast and continually evolving,” said David Repinski, President and Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas.  “The expansion of inTrust into the US complements our traditional loss adjusting services by providing access to global TPA solutions and metrics that impact claims and minimize future risks.”

Jim Devall rejoins Cunningham Lindsey’s Global Specialty Market Team

Dallas, Texas – Cunningham Lindsey announces the return of Jim Devall to the organization.  Devall is extremely well known in the London and domestic E&S markets, having personally developed and managed both program and open market claims for two of the largest global claims management organizations.

In his new role, Devall will work alongside Jim Martin to lead the U.S. portion of Cunningham Lindsey’s Global Specialty Market Team focused on the London Market by optimizing service delivery, developing new business, and enhancing the client experience.  Devall and Martin bring a combined 40 years of experience with London claims and program management. Together, this dynamic duo will focus on both domestic coverholders as well as London underwriters and brokers.

“I am thrilled to have talented and resourceful individuals like Jim Devall and Jim Martin joined up and leading our U.S. team,” said David Repinski, President & Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas.  “Both of these gentlemen have an extensive network of contacts and deep knowledge of the London Market. Their track record of success is unparalleled, and together, they are well placed to steer Cunningham Lindsey towards continued success.”

Jim Devall has 32 years’ experience in the insurance industry and has served in numerous management roles, including Managing Director of Program Operations, Director – Excess & Specialty Services, and Regional Manager of Field Services.  He attended Southwest Texas State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.

Vale Training Solutions reorganizes into a single center of excellence

Central campus to meet industry’s evolving needs for flexible, on-demand training offerings

Dallas, Texas (January 19, 2016) – Vale Training Solutions (Vale), a Cunningham Lindsey Company and an independent division specializing in training for adjusters and appraisers, insurance and auto restoration for the claims industry, announced today it is reorganizing into a single facility in Dallas, Texas as the “Center of Excellence. ” The Center of Excellence will centralize the resources of Vale in order to enrich the classroom experience with highly qualified faculty on one campus, produce online content for on-demand training offerings, and dispatch top instructors at the client’s request to deliver consistent and updated curriculums.

“Our clients have shared with us their need for changes in the way they want their people to be trained,” said David Repinski, President and Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas. “We are proud of the 60-year legacy Vale offers, and the Center of Excellence will allow us to continue providing modern and flexible training offerings that meet the evolving training needs of the insurance and claims industry.”

The Center of Excellence will combine the expertise of the Pennsylvania location with the Dallas operations into a centralized campus effective February 1, 2016.

Cunningham Lindsey names Laura de Sordi Managing Director of Latin America Operations

Cunningham Lindsey announces Laura de Sordi as the Managing Director of Latin America Operations.  In this position, Laura will be responsible for the overall field operations across Latin America and the Caribbean, and will focus on service delivery, new business acquisition and account management.

Laura’s appointment as Managing Director follows the recent opening of a new hub in Miami in response to the concentrated growth and relocation of insurance, reinsurance and broking firms to the city.  The Miami hub will complement our existing operations in Central and South America that have been serving the area for the last 25 years.  Laura will work closely with all of the teams in the region to provide a full range of services, including loss adjusting, forensic advisory services to quantify the financial impacts of losses, and investigative services associated with EFI Global, the forensic engineering, fire investigation and environmental consulting division of Cunningham Lindsey.

“I am excited to have Laura directing our operations in Latin America,” said David Repinski, President and Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas.  “Miami is fast developing as a major insurance hub and having a physical presence here is critical to the needs of our clients.  Laura’s leadership and claims background will help accelerate our growth initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing our clients with easily accessible claims services for managing risk.”

Laura has more than 10 years of legal and claims operations management experience, including senior leadership with a large global insurer in the London market.  She is an attorney and holds a degree in Law, and is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.

Jeffrey Cornwell joins as U.S. Head of Forensic Advisory Services

DALLAS, TX – 6 JULY 2015 – Cunningham Lindsey, a leading global loss adjusting and claim management company, announced today the addition of Jeffrey Cornwell as the U.S. Head of Forensic Advisory Services (FAS), an independent division that specializes in the quantification of business interruption and financial losses incident to insurance claims.

Jeffrey will lead the division’s team of professionals as they expand Cunningham Lindsey’s Forensic Advisory Services Team into the U.S. Jeffrey will also work closely with Cunningham Lindsey’s Major and Complex Loss (MCL) team and other adjusters in the industry on catastrophe and major loss quantification.

Jeffrey brings more than 30 years of forensic accounting expertise to Cunningham Lindsey. He specializes in the analysis of insurance claims for business interruption, inventory loss, fixed asset damages, and other complex, multi-million dollar, international insurance claims across Latin America, Europe and Asia. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Public Accountancy from California State University and is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also fluent in Spanish.

“Jeffrey is a very accomplished forensic professional. He brings a unique blend of financial expertise and forensic analytics to assist our clients with identifying and quantifying business interruption and financial losses across a diverse range of industries,” said David Repinski, President and Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas. “Launching FAS in the U.S. will leverage our existing capabilities and success from our international forensic advisory services to meet the critical needs of our clients’ increasingly complex and major losses in the U.S.”

FAS U.S. operations will build on our existing offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In addition, Cornwell’s appointment will assist our London market clients who have an increasing need for on-the-ground forensic advisory services following loss events in the U.S. Our Forensic Advisory specialists across the world regularly partner with insurers, re-insurers and captives to assist in settling insurance claims. We provide forensic expertise to quantify business interruption and other financial impacts of complex losses. Our experts are also engaged by the legal profession to assist in a wide range of contentious matters and disputes.

“I am excited to have a vital role expanding the Forensic Advisory Services Team within the U.S.” said Cornwell. “The financial elements of losses are often the largest and more difficult component of an insurance claim to analyze. Our growing team of U.S. forensic professionals will work closely with our clients, brokers and policy holders and their advisors to uncover the financial evidence to quantify the full financial impact of any loss.”

About Cunningham Lindsey

Cunningham Lindsey is a leading provider of claims management services to the insurance market. The group’s expertise is deployed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across a wide range of disciplines, from risk management to the handling of subsidence claim portfolios, as well as technical loss adjusting. Cunningham Lindsey serves clients in the insurance industry in more than 60 countries with over 6,000 employees. Forensic Accounting Services (FAS), a division of Cunningham Lindsey, is not a CPA firm and does not offer public accounting services. Further information can be sourced from www.cunninghamlindsey.comwww.forensicadvisoryservices.com

The FAS Focus – Edition 4

In our first article, Terri Adams – Senior Manager in our London office, looks at how recent examples of cyber incidents are focusing attention across a range of insurance issues – including policy response issues, the adequacy of policy limits and the increased forensic analysis required in assessing claims.

In our second article, Domenic Quartullo, Litigation Partner in our Sydney office, looks at situations when an entity’s annual financial statements are not “fit for purpose” or sufficient when seeking to satisfy the varied objectives arising in commercial and other dispute proceedings.

With this issue we also welcome Jeffrey Cornwell who has been appointed head of Forensic Advisory Services in the U.S. as part of our expansion of services in the Americas.

Click here to download The FAS Focus – Edition 4

Cunningham Lindsey partners with VDOS Global for drone technology services

Cunningham Lindsey announced today its partnership with VDOS Global (VDOS), a leader in unmanned inspection services, to incorporate drone technology solutions into the insurance market.

As the first FAA authorized UAS-inspection company in the US, VDOS is a well established provider of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services whose commercial pilots are seasoned and fully licensed with FAA certifications with a proven track record for safety.  Cunningham Lindsey and VDOS will work together to achieve improved efficiencies in daily claims scenarios by assisting insurers with the creation of a drone program into their claims process, providing safer pre- and post-loss assessments with aerial flyovers, and customized UAV-training tailored to the needs of field adjusters and additional experts seeking certification.

This partnership will provide carriers immediate access to aerial data for application efficiencies in the underwriting process as well as catastrophic claims situations for all types of property.  When claims occur that require a forensic investigation, VDOS will also work with EFI Global (EFI), the forensic division of Cunningham Lindsey, to provide the UAVs needed to expedite the gathering of field data in challenging locations.

“We are excited to partner with a highly respected and recognizable brand like VDOS to share the benefits of the emerging drone technology with our clients,” said David Repinski, President and Chief Client Officer of Cunningham Lindsey, Americas.  “It is undeniable our industry is changing constantly, and the data application possibilities using drone technology are tremendous. This partnership represents the best path forward to help insurers incorporate a UAV strategy to gain a competitive and differential advantage across all channels in the claims and risk assessment process.”

Jeremy Mele, President of EFI Global, added, “Working with VDOS in using UAVs in our forensic evaluations is a natural complement to EFI’s investigation process. This type of technology will enhance our technical experts’ investigative reach, and add a level of safety and security in the field when accessing sites with unsafe property conditions.”

Brian Whiteside, CEO of VDOS stated, “We are truly excited to partner with such an incredible team at Cunningham Lindsey who understands how drones are changing traditional business models.  Our enterprise deployment program using UAV technology is the first of its kind, and will accelerate safe and efficient claims services for adjusters through the team’s integrated training and operations structure.”

Press Contact: Heather Suttle 281-312-3157, 281-734-8609         [email protected]

Faulty girders cause multi-million dollar loss

 


Expert in this field


Construction on the underground tunnel had begun in 2011 and was due for completion in the fall of 2014. However, problems were identified with the pre-stressed concrete girders in 2013 and work on the tunnel halted.

 


  • The Challenge

    The contractor hired to design, build and install the pre-stressed concrete girders made 500 between August 2012 and May 2013. While a quality management procedure and plan was in place, the insured was concerned about the use of tack welding in the girders.

  • The Solution

    Extensive testing and analysis of the girders began with the random demolition of six girders and extensive load testing. It was determined that in addition to the use of tack welding and lack of regulatory approval, none of the girders were fabricated according to the original agreement. The loss adjusters determined they were deficient and unsafe to be put to use in highway tunnels.

Water and mould threaten new construction

Find an expert

Get in touch with one of our experts around the world, who will be happy to discuss your business needs.

Find

A water leak in a building in its final phase of construction led to the discovery of mould growth in summer 2014. The discovery threatened to postpone completion of the high rise, which was 90% finished and due to be handed over to its new management company.

 

  • The Challenge

    One suggestion involved the removal of all floors and plasterboard on the floors that had been affected by the water intrusion. Such action would come at a considerable business interruption cost for the developer.

  • The Solution

    EFI Global were contacted by the adjuster running the claim to carry out a detailed inspection and clarify the extent of the problem. The team positively identified mould impacts in three of the units and six building hallways. Within two months of EFI Global’s initial inspection, the mould part of the project was completed. Positive results from the post remedial verification inspection and air sampling meant these areas could be handed back to the developer, allowing him to rebuild and deliver the building on time.

Cunningham Lindsey launches Major & Complex Loss Review

Cunningham Lindsey, the market-leading loss adjusting and claims management company, today launched its 2015 Major and Complex Loss Review, which gives a bird’s eye view of a number of case studies ranging from the recent explosions in Tianjin to the theft of rare religious relics.

Neil Gibson, UK Loss Adjusting Services Director, said: “Almost every day we are seeing increasing loss estimates from the explosions in Tianjin – a vivid reminder that many of the losses faced by the insurance industry are catastrophic and complex. Tianjin exemplified many of the trends we have seen in the cases contained in this year’s report. For example, there was a wide spread of claims from contamination to contingent business interruption, the need for local expertise to overcome the access issues and to gather information, and specialist support was required from across our network.”

“Adjusting a major loss demands technical excellence, but this alone is not enough. Firstly the need for in-depth specialist knowledge is reiterated time and again in our case studies. We have cases where the difference between success and failure has rested on having a specific knowledge of how to store cocoa beans, the judicial complexities of France and Belgium or the historic value of a religious relic. Clients are looking for this deep understanding of either an industry or specialist subject.”

“However, expertise is only effective if it is delivered promptly, to the exact point of need. No one knows when disaster might strike, so the ability to scale up and wherever our clients need us is vital. If the right expertise is not available in the region where the loss has occurred, we can put specialists on a plane and get them onsite within hours. When a week of storms turned the Australian state of New South Wales on its head, we had the flexibility and international resources to fly staff from New Zealand, the UK, South Africa and Canada to help with both property and business interruption losses.”

“As these case studies demonstrate, dealing with major and complex losses is the very opposite of a faceless, process-driven approach. The commercial angle to any major loss is a significant and delicate issue, with the policyholder and their insurer often having a differing understanding of the policy wordings or desired outcomes. As this year’s report illustrates, losses vary enormously, by country or by cause – but the key elements of the solution remain constant: the right person, in the right place at the right time.”

You can read the review here: Cunningham Lindsey MCL Review 2015 (003)

– ends –

For further press information, please contact
Caroline Wagstaff Tel: +44 (0)7767 794208