IBM and QBE, one of the world's leading international insurers and reinsurers, today announced a strategic agreement for IBM to transform and manage the information technology (IT) infrastructure of QBE's UK and Western European offices.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

The partnership underpins a major change program at QBE and covers the development and maintenance of QBE's IT support services including Helpdesk, Desktop, Data Centre, LAN, WAN and Disaster Recovery. IBM's Portsmouth data centre will house the support for the business while virtualization of the server estate will reduce QBE's carbon footprint and provide higher availability and scalability for business growth.

QBE is a leading specialist in the London and European commercial lines insurance business offering considerable diversity to the broker community. In addition to the London market, QBE operates from seven UK-regional centres and has a presence in 15 European countries.

Kathy Lisson, Chief Operating Officer of QBE European Operations said, "The agreement with IBM underpins QBE's European transformation of operational support services by delivering a scalable operations platform and raising the service levels for our global operating platforms, particularly in the area of disaster recovery. I am delighted that, after a rigorous tender process, we have appointed a world-leading partner of the caliber of IBM to work with us at QBE."

Bruce Ross, General Manager, IBM Global Technology Services UK & Ireland said, "Proven IBM service management disciplines and tools will deliver much higher levels of system availability and vastly improve QBE's business continuity infrastructure. IBM's flexible solution will enable QBE to adjust to the fast-changing demands of a competitive market and help transform their IT."

  The contract was signed in September 2009.

  About QBE

Founded in Australia over 100 years ago, QBE Insurance Group is a specialist business insurer, now operating out of 45 countries across the globe. We have been active in the UK since 1904, originally within the marine insurance market, but branching out more recently to offer commercial insurance to companies across the UK. At the end of 2008, the Group's turnover was over 6bn pounds Sterling, making it one of the largest insurance firms in the UK.

We provide insurance for a broad range of business categories, including property, motor (commercial, bus and fleet), public and product liability insurance, professional indemnity, leisure and sport, marine, energy, aviation, and specialty insurance, including bloodstock.

  For further information visit: www.qbeeurope.com

  About IBM
  For more information on IBM, visit www.ibm.com



  Media Contact

  QBE
  Victoria Sisson
  Senior PR consultant
  +44 (0) 207 105 4428
  Victoria.sisson@uk.qbe.com

  IBM
  Ken Saunders
  External Relations (UK)
  +44 (0) 207 021 8422
  saundken@uk.ibm.com

  IBM
  Tara Sucato
  External Relations (U.S.)
  917-472-3701
  tjsucato@us.ibm.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: tjsucato@us.ibm.com

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SOURCE: IBM