Insurer Aflac discloses cybersecurity incident
Insurer Aflac said on Friday it identified suspicious activity on its network in the United States on June 12.
The company said it has reached out to third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and has commenced a review of potentially impacted files.
These files contain personal information of its customers, including social security numbers and health-related details, it added.
Shares of Aflac fell 1.6 per cent in premarket trading.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
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11 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
MPI Shares WEC 2025 Highlights, Announces Strategic Growth and New Offerings at Annual Press Conference
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Speakers included: Paul Van Deventer, President & CEO, MPI Rachel Benedick, Chief Revenue Officer, MPI Rob Adams, President & Owner, Bishop-McCann, and Chair, MPI International Board of Directors Rebecca DeLuca, Vice President of Destination Sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Chair, Global Board of Trustees, MPI Foundation Cory Elford, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications, MPI (moderator) Strategic and Business Updates: Paul Van Deventer MPI President and CEO Paul Van Deventer shared key updates on MPI's business performance and strategic direction, reaffirming the organization's commitment to innovation, inclusion, and industry leadership. Community Growth & Engagement With more than 13,000 members in the MPI community and nearly 6,500 planner members projected by year-end 2025, MPI's influence continues to grow. The buying power represented by its members exceeds $26 billion annually. The organization reaches its members through more than 40,000 chapter events, 14,000 MPI Academy class participants, digital platforms, publishing, social channels, and in-person gatherings. New Global Partnerships MPI continues to expand its reach in Latin America, and this is the fastest growing region. Over the past five years in Latin America, our community has grown more than 50% and we have 9 chapters and clubs in the region. MPI is partnering with FIEXPO Latin America and WMF Brave Meetings to deliver education and meet-ups. MPI is pleased to welcome 104 international attendees to WEC, including 59 from Canada, 24 from EMEA and APAC and 21 from Latin America. Strong Financial Outlook MPI remains on a solid financial trajectory, showing continued year-over-year improvement. According to MPI's 7-year consolidated cash and financial trend data, the organization continues to deliver operational excellence and invest in new capabilities while maintaining a balanced budget and financial health. These gains allow MPI to remain agile in responding to the needs of its global community. Strategic Focus Areas for 2025: Rob Adams Rob Adams emphasized six strategic focus area guiding MPI's future. Established by the International Board of Directors during the 2024 board retreat, these priorities aim to drive sustainable growth through revenue and EBITDA efficiency, strengthen member loyalty through community engagement and advance the industry by investing in member education and professional development. Advancing Social Responsibility MPI continues to lead the industry in promoting ethical practices and social responsibility. This year's initiatives include required training for staff and volunteers on anti-human trafficking, anti-harassment, and conflict resolution. MPI also introduced 'HEAR:' Help, Equity, Action, Resolution, a support framework that fosters psychological safety for members facing difficult issues. Further efforts include neuroinclusion training in partnership with ASAE and research into workforce development with IMEX Group. New MPI Leadership MPI also announced its incoming 2025 leadership: Jim Russell, Chair Elect, International Board of Directors; Executive Vice President of Sales (formerly EVP of Client Relationships) at Freeman. Richard Allchild, Chair Elect, Global Board of Trustees, MPI Foundation; Head of Sales for North America and IMEX Group. WEC 2025 St. Louis Recap: Rachel Benedick This year's WEC brought together approximately 2,200 registered attendees with 1,900 in person. More than 45% of attendees were meeting planners and 984 first time attendees to WEC. Curated by MPI Academy, WEC attendees had the opportunity to participate in more than 113 educational sessions and 165 speakers and facilitators, attendees earned up to 13 CE hours. Keynote highlights included: Brittany Packnett Cunningham - Activist, Educator, Author: 'The Confidence Revolution.' A sought-after voice on social justice and empowerment, Cunningham challenges audiences to build a culture of belonging, tackle inequity, and create meaningful, systemic change. Freestyle+ - Hip-Hop Comedy Group: 'The Power of Play featuring Freestyle Love Supreme.' This combines Tony-award-winning performers with science-backed learning frameworks to foster spontaneous laugher, authentic connection and lasting discovery. Temple Grandin – Scientist, Author, Inventor: 'Great Minds Are Not All the Same' A leading advocate for autism awareness, Grandin will help audiences understand how autistic individuals use object visualization or math pattern thinking to solve problems, and how all minds can contribute to your team's strengths. Daniel Lewis - Entrepreneur, Founder of T By Daniel: 'RALLY to Lead: Igniting Connection, Collaboration & Change!' Known for transforming adversity into opportunity, Lewis shares insights on entrepreneurial spirit, building authentic connections, and using collaboration as a force for positive change. Resident Emcee - Carol Daniel, Senior Producer and Host at Nine PBS in St. Louis: helped guide attendees in their WEC St. Louis journey. Evening Events Showcase St. Louis Hospitality WEC attendees enjoyed one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the city, including: Opening Celebration at Busch Stadium President's Dinner honoring chapter leaders and RISE Award winners, featuring entertainment by Jarrod Spector and honoring Stephen Revetria MPI Foundation Rendezvous at The Pageant (sold out); an electric night of music and philanthropy in this nationally acclaimed concert venue in the heart of St. Louis nightlife. Guests experienced live musical performances, St. Louis-inspired cuisine, and plenty of fun to keep the energy soaring all night long. This is an important fundraiser for MPI Foundation, which has been funding individual education scholarships, chapter grants and industry research for the past 40 years. Closing Celebration: Feast & Flow: We concluded WEC with a closing celebration like no other, giving attendees a journey through the heart & soul of St. Louis. 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With the JOY Index, MPI captured authentic emotional responses during the keynotes, offering a new dimension of insight into what truly resonated with participants. Unlike traditional surveys that rely on memory and subjective recall, the JOY Index™ tracked physiological responses, including changes in blood flow correlated with joy-related neurochemicals, without collecting any personal data. Over 2,500 attendees had the opportunity to opt in by scanning a QR code and downloading a companion app, which paired with wearable tech and Zenus facial recognition software to anonymously collect engagement data. The JOY Index opens the door to smarter, more meaningful event design. MPI is engaging with local organizations to direct social sustainability efforts where they're needed most, from planting trees for carbon offset to tackling food waste through pre- and post-event audits. 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These activities include an MPI-hosted silent auction, a pickleball event hosted by Visit Seattle and Chicken 'N Pickle, and a live auction at the Presidents Dinner. The highlight of the fundraising efforts is the Rendezvous event, sponsored by Explore St. Louis. Collectively, these events are forecasted to raise more than $200,000, underscoring the community's strong support for MPIF's mission and future endeavors. MPI Events Updates: Rachel Benedick Upcoming MPI signature events include: theEVENT in Fredericton, Canada (Sept. 7-9, 2025) EMEC 2026 in Barcelona, Spain (Feb. 21–24, 2026) WEC 2026 in San Antonio, TX (June 2–4, 2026) WEC 2027 in Las Vegas, NV (June 2027) WEC 2028 in Denver, CO (June 2028) WEC 2029 in Anaheim, CA (June 2029) WEC 2030 in Tampa Bay, FL (June 2030) Attachment WEC St. Louis
Globe and Mail
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