Two MMC operating companies have been selected as the best in their fields in Business Insurance magazine's first-ever Readers Choice Awards. MMC is the only organization to have more than one of its operating companies receive an award.

Readers voted MMC's risk and insurance services subsidiary Marsh Inc. the best overall commercial lines retail insurance brokerage and Mercer Human Resource Consulting, which provides HR and related financial advice, products, and services, the best benefits consultant. In both cases, readers based their selections on the service, value, quality, and innovation delivered by the firms.

"We are greatly encouraged by the results of the Business Insurance survey," said Brian Storms, chairman and chief executive officer of Marsh. "We have worked hard to stay focused on our clients and earn their confidence over the past year while simultaneously revitalizing all that we do to enhance their ongoing experience and satisfaction with Marsh.

"Marsh's success depends on our ability to deliver exceptional service quality to our clients," Mr. Storms added, "and our talented and dedicated colleagues around the world remain deeply committed to meeting and exceeding our clients' highest expectations."

Michael Caulfield, president of Mercer HR, commented, "We're extremely proud to be named as the best overall employee benefits consulting firm by those who matter the most: our clients. We believe this client endorsement reflects our ability to attract the best people and to respond to client needs with innovative, value-added solutions."

Business Insurance, which reports on finance, risk management, insurance, employee benefits, and related disciplines, surveyed its readers during the summer and announced the recipients of its Readers Choice Awards on October 10.

MMC is a global professional services firm with annual revenues exceeding $12 billion. It is the parent company of Marsh, the world's leading risk and insurance services firm; Guy Carpenter, the world's leading risk and reinsurance specialist; Kroll, the world's leading risk consulting company; Mercer, a major global provider of human resource and specialty consulting services; and Putnam Investments, one of the largest investment management companies in the United States. Approximately 60,000 employees provide analysis, advice, and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100 countries. Its stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York, Chicago, Pacific, and London stock exchanges. MMC's website address is www.mmc.com.