Jan Nijssen:
Global Head Pensions, ING Group

Jan Nijssen is Global Head Pensions and Chief Executive Officer Insurance Central Europe of ING Group. Headquartered in Amsterdam, ING has 112,000 employees in more than 50 countries and total assets of EUR 830 billion. ING combines insurance, banking and asset management and is one of the largest providers of defined contribution retirement plans, life insurance and annuities in the United States.

Jan Nijssen has an extensive background in insurance and pensions. He was general manager of the life and pension operations of Holland's largest insurer, Nationale-Nederlanden and was a member of the Executive Committee of ING's European operations. When pensions was designated as a global strategic spearhead of ING in 2003, Jan Nijssen was appointed as Global Head Pensions. He currently combines that position with the responsibility for ING's insurance businesses in Central Europe. ING offers pension products in 30 countries. Its pension assets amount to EUR 179 billion. Pension business accounts for the greater part of ING's insurance premiums, assets and value of new business.

ING advises governments in several countries on pension reform. The advice depends on the social security structure, economic situation, legislation and tax system of the country concerned, but in a general sense ING advocates a balanced 3-pillar approach. ING also helps governments to build second and third pillar pension systems The pension reforms in many countries present not only a commercial opportunity to ING to expand its pension business, but also enable the Group to underline its corporate social responsibility as a pension provider. Pensions are a prime example of how ING can demonstrate that care for people and society can truly go hand in hand with long-term sustainable business.