Who's making the news inemployee benefits? (Photo: Shutterstock)

A whirlwind of benefits industry mergers, acquisitions,partnerships, new hires and promotions is sweeping across the U.S.Here are a few newsmakers:

Global advisory Willis Towers Watson announcedthe hires of John McQuade and DeborahTully as senior members of the company's GovernmentContractor Industry Group. They specialize in Cost AccountingStandards and Federal Acquisition Regulation compliance,negotiating advance agreements with government agencies, providingassistance in resolving disputes with the government, and more.

The Asset Management Exchange (AMX), launchedlast year by Willis Towers Watson announced theappointment of Kimberley West as U.S. head. Inthis newly created position, West will have overall responsibilityfor leading the expansion of the exchange in the U.S. Based in NewYork, West will report directly to Oliver Jaegemann, global head ofAMX.

WEX Health has selecteddailyVest, a financial services software companywith expertise in  investment performance reporting, tofurther enhance the investment capabilities and user experience forWEX Health consumers utilizing the health savings account (HSA)investment tools.

Insurance industry executive Darrin J. Weber announced theformation of Dallas-based Weber Group Advisors.Previously operating as RiskPro Partners, there-branded company is a privately held commercial brokerage firmspecializing in surety bonding, risk management, commercialinsurance and employee benefits. While the company name is new,Weber's strong team of professionals remains the same, boastingover 130 years of combined industry experience. Weber will run thecompany as President and CEO.

Unum announced a definitive agreement toacquire Pramerica ycie TUiR SA (“Pramerica ycie”),a financial protection provider in Poland, from a subsidiary ofPrudential Financial, Inc. (“PFI”). Unum provides employee benefitsproducts and services, as well as group and individual disabilityincome protection insurance. Terms of the sale were notdisclosed.

Snagajob announced JohnFrederick has joined the company as its new ChiefAdministrative Officer. Frederick will further the company'scommitment to improve the lives of hourly workers andemployers.

Workforce engagement and management technology providerShiftPixy announced the appointment ofPatrice H. Launay as Chief Financial Officer,effective immediately. Launay comes to ShiftPixy with an extensiveaccounting background, having served as an audit manager forvarious large regional and multinational accounting firms.

Insurance industry veteran Lowell Richard isjoining Sapoznik Insurance as the company'sbenefits consultant. Creating this new role will allow Sapoznik toenhance current programs, develop new initiatives and continue tobe a leader in servicing clients.

National insurance brokerage and risk management firmRisk Strategies Company announced the acquisitionof Benefits Network Insurance Agency (BNIA), aspecialist brokerage focused on the development of employeebenefits plans. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. BNIA wasfounded in 1989 by Phil DiCiero as a wholesale broker providingservices to the small group business of Blue Cross Blue Shield'sindependent agents. In addition to BNIA, Risk Strategies recentlyacquired three brokerages with benefits specialty focuses,specifically: Mosse & Mosse, located north of Boston; TikiaConsulting, just outside New Orleans; and TSG Financial on LongIsland, New York.

OneAmerica announced leadership changes andmajor investment plans: Jeff Holley, executivevice president, Finance, Operations and Institutional Markets willtake the helm as acting leader of the company's Retirement Servicesrecord-keeping business and Dennis Martin, seniorvice president, was appointed acting leader of its Individual Lifeand Financial Services lines of business. More key leadershipchanges include the creation of a new leadership role, head ofEnterprise Operations, reporting to Jeff Holley. The company alsois continuing its significant investment in technology.

The National Tax-Deferred Savings Association(NTSA) has named the winners of the NTSA Elite AdvisorAward. The 2018 NTSA Elite Advisors are as follows:

• Shane Hall, RFC, Shane Hall Financial,Amarillo, TX; Broker-Dealer: PlanMember Services
• Kent Schutte, CFP, ChFC, CLU, TGPC, EFSAdvisors, Cambridge, MN; Broker-Dealer: Advanced Advisor Group(AAG)
• Christina Winters Gears, AIF, Creating andManaging Wealth, LLC, Irving, TX; Broker-Dealer: LincolnInvestment

Established in 2014, the NTSA Elite Advisor Award recognizes thecontributions of advisors who have advanced best practice standardsin the 403(b) and/or 457 retirement industry, and in so doing, haveimproved the ability of American workers to build a successfulretirement.

MetLife has named Executive Vice PresidentJames Reid as head of its Global Employee Benefits(GEB) business. Reid is responsible for accelerating GEB's growthby partnering with MetLife's regional offices and expandingrelationships with top financial institutions and global employeebenefit brokers and consultants. Reid will also lead selectcritical growth initiatives for the company.