Michael Bentley, previously Vice President Human Resources Europe, retired from Amgen (the leading biopharmaceutical corporation) in July 2005 after 37 years in the benefits and human resources world.
Michael started his career as a European benefits consultant for Noble Lowndes International (now part of Mercers). He has been closely associated with Swiss Life for many years, having set up one of the early multinational plans with Swiss Life for a mutual client covering 17 European countries.
His early career was based in London, Brussels and Lucerne, followed by a five-year assignment in New Jersey. Michael returned to Switzerland in 1991 to help the start up of Amgen, which has subsequently set up successfully in 27 European countries and grown European sales to become a USD 2 billion organization. Swiss Life played an important role in helping Amgen establish their benefit programs in many of these countries.
Michael has spoken at several benefit conferences on the subject of multinational pooling and European benefits. Having spent various periods of time in supposedly superior final pay plans, he was an early convert in the 1980s, both professionally and personally, to the concept of defined contribution plans, a route also taken by Amgen.
According to Michael, the attractions of a multinational pooling system are many and varied (and the key aspects depend to a great extent on the maturity of the organization). Priorities include, amongst others: a high reputation of the local insurer, competitive rates, as well as outstanding and prompt service from both the insurance company and the key account manager. As the company grows the multinational pooling dividend also becomes important. However, both at the outset and thereafter, the overall levels of service are paramount.
Michael, who continues to be based in Zug, Switzerland, has already started working as a consultant for several multinational corporations, and is available to help clients in the area of benefits and general human resource consulting.
The Swiss Life Network would like to record its thanks to Michael Bentley for the excellent and fruitful working relationship we have enjoyed with him over many years.
His early career was based in London, Brussels and Lucerne, followed by a five-year assignment in New Jersey. Michael returned to Switzerland in 1991 to help the start up of Amgen, which has subsequently set up successfully in 27 European countries and grown European sales to become a USD 2 billion organization. Swiss Life played an important role in helping Amgen establish their benefit programs in many of these countries.
Michael has spoken at several benefit conferences on the subject of multinational pooling and European benefits. Having spent various periods of time in supposedly superior final pay plans, he was an early convert in the 1980s, both professionally and personally, to the concept of defined contribution plans, a route also taken by Amgen.
According to Michael, the attractions of a multinational pooling system are many and varied (and the key aspects depend to a great extent on the maturity of the organization). Priorities include, amongst others: a high reputation of the local insurer, competitive rates, as well as outstanding and prompt service from both the insurance company and the key account manager. As the company grows the multinational pooling dividend also becomes important. However, both at the outset and thereafter, the overall levels of service are paramount.
Michael, who continues to be based in Zug, Switzerland, has already started working as a consultant for several multinational corporations, and is available to help clients in the area of benefits and general human resource consulting.
The Swiss Life Network would like to record its thanks to Michael Bentley for the excellent and fruitful working relationship we have enjoyed with him over many years.