Minneapolis-based ING is expanding its marketing activities in the U.S. employee benefits division to gain more voluntary employee benefits business.

"Voluntary benefits is an underserved segment of the market," says Ivan Gilreath, president of ING Employee Benefits. "In this challenging economic market, many employers want to offer their employees smart benefit choices that will help protect their families, no matter what their life stage."

Marc Lower was recently hired as head of voluntary benefits sales and strategy, and Brian Bly, Valerie Cyr and Terri Orem have joined ING as the newest regional directors. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico make up Bly's territory, and Cyr's territory includes New England, New York and New Jersey. Orem's territory is comprised of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan and western Pennsylvania.

With more than 25 years of experience in employee benefits, including 12 years in the voluntary market, Lower was recently the vice president of sales for the Western Region for Colonial Life and has also held senior voluntary benefits positions with Jefferson Pilot and Mutual of Omaha.

Bly, who has more than 19 years of voluntary insurance experience, was previously the owner of Colorado-based Bridge Benefits Inc. He has also been in leadership roles with Conseco Insurance Group and American Fidelity Assurance Company and is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and Chamber of Commerce in Broomfield, Colo., and Arvada, Colo.

Holding more than 20 years of insurance sales experience, Cyr was the former regional sales director for Texas Life Insurance Company. She is a Workplace Benefits Association Advisory Council member and was recently elected president. Previously, Cyr was the president of the voluntary benefits forum as well as a member of the Mass Marketing Insurance Institute Communications Committee.

Orem, who was a senior regional sales director for Trustmark Insurance Company, has more than 33 years of sales experience in the industry. For four years in a row, Orem was the voluntary benefits overall sales leader while at Trustmark Insurance Company.