News Room

June 16, 2004

Assurant Solutions Ranked 14th on Computerworld’s 2004 List of 100 Best Places to Work in Technology

ATLANTA: Assurant Solutions announced that IDG’s Computerworld, the “Voice of IT Management,” ranked the specialty insurer and risk management company No. 14 on its 2004 list of the top 100 workplaces for information technology (IT) professionals.

This is the third consecutive year that Assurant Solutions, formerly known as Assurant Group, has been honored by the weekly IT newspaper.  Assurant Group ranked 55th in 2003 and 76th in 2002.  The list was published as part of Computerworld’s 11th annual Best Places to Work in IT survey and is featured in the June 14, 2004 issue.  It also is available online at Computerworld.com.

Computerworld has ranked the top 100 work environments for technology professionals since 1994.  Nominated companies complete a comprehensive questionnaire that examines company benefits, diversity, career development, training and retention.  In addition, Computerworld this year surveyed more than 17,000 IT workers, and their responses factored heavily in determining the rankings.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment for a company of our size and demonstrates the dedication of our IT employees to the business and their commitment to meeting the technology needs of our customers,” said Robert Lewis, executive vice president and chief information officer of Assurant Solutions.

Assurant Solutions’ IT department supports a global operation that includes more than 6,100 employees and facilities in 10 states in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The Computerworld survey ranked Assurant Solutions above average in several key categories, including percentage of minority staff (5th), percentage of minority managers (6th), training days offered per IT employee (10th) and percentage of women IT managers (31st).

“We were tremendously gratified by the reader response to our ‘Best Places to Work’ survey this year, which was 30 percent higher and represents the views of nearly 17,000 technology professionals,” said Maryfran Johnson, editor in chief, Computerworld. “The most-desired benefits have remained consistent in recent years.  IT pros still want access to leading-edge technologies, training and flexible work schedules.  But our Best Places companies often go beyond those measures to provide much deeper levels of job fulfillment.”

Other companies and organizations that Computerworld ranked among the Best Places to Work include Allstate Insurance Company, FedEx Corporation, the University of Miami, United Parcel Service, MasterCard International and Discover Financial Services. To view the complete list, please visit www.computerworld.com/2004bestplaces.

About Assurant Solutions

Assurant Solutions develops, underwrites and markets specialty insurance, extended service contracts and other risk management solutions in collaborative relationships with leading financial institutions, retailers, manufactured housing and automobile dealers, utilities and other entities.  Principal lines of business include creditor-placed homeowners insurance and related tracking services, manufactured housing homeowners insurance, debt protection administration, credit insurance, and warranties and extended service contracts on appliances, consumer electronics, automobiles, recreational vehicles and boats.  With executive offices in Atlanta, Ga., Assurant Solutions serves clients and their customers throughout North America, the Caribbean and selected countries in South America and Europe.

Assurant Solutions is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected other markets. Assurant, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ, has approximately $24 billion in assets and $7 billion in revenue.

About Computerworld

Computerworld, the “Voice of IT Management,” is the most trusted source for critical information needs of senior IT management.  Computerworld’s integrated offerings form the U.S.-based hub of the world largest (58-edition) global IT media network through its weekly publication, Computerworld.com Web site, focused conference series and custom research.

Computerworld is a business unit of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading technology media, research and event company. A privately-held company, IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers.

Media contact

James A. Sykes
Director, Corporate Communications
Assurant Solutions
260 Interstate N. Circle, SE
Atlanta, Ga. 30339-2111
Telephone: 770.763.1015
FAX: 770.859.4325
E-mail: james.sykes@assurant.com

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