Kemper Services Unveils New Name: Broadspire

NU Online News Service, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m.EDT?Kemper Services in Long Grove, Ill., is calling itselfBroadspire from now on.

By shedding its former name, the firm underscored itsindependence from the ailing Kemper Insurance Companies lastweek.

The claims management and risk consulting service company waspart of the Kemper group until July when Kemper sold off the unitto Platinum Equity, LLC, an information technology investment andacquisition firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

"This is a very important milestone that signifies ourtransformation into a fully independent service provider," saidPatricia A. Drago, president and chief executive officer ofBroadspire. "It's a new beginning, built on a very strongfoundation," she said in a statement.

Broadspire provides a variety of management services forworkers' compensation, auto liability and general liability claims.It also provides an array of disability, Family Medical Leave Actand absence management services, as well as integrated return towork programs.

The new name was announced to employees and customers at thekickoff of a rebranding campaign that will continue this fall andincludes advertising and a new Web site,www.choosebroadspire.com.

Establishing a strong corporate identity is vital to sustainingthe new company's momentum, said Rob Joubran, chief operatingofficer for Platinum Equity.

'Broadspire' will be defined by the fundamental values thatattracted Platinum to this business in the first place?the qualityand commitment of its employees, products and services."

The company said the name was chosen to reflect "the company'sdefining characteristics?evoking the breadth and quality of servicethat are the company's foundation and the long-range vision thatinforms its aspiration for growth as a market leader."

Ms. Drago said the company will continue to offer its serviceson an unbundled basis, while also considering ways to betterintegrate a broad variety of products and services.

Broadspire offers a broad array of absence management servicesincluding risk and safety consulting; workers' compensation; autoliability, general liability, and short- and long-term disabilityclaim management services; Family Medical Leave Act administration;and total absence management programs.

Platinum Equity is a global firm specializing in the merger,acquisition and operation of services and solutions companies.Since its founding in 1995, the company has completed over 40transactions, building a portfolio of 19 companies with more than18,000 employees and revenues approaching $4 billion, according tothe company.