HAWAII

Kaiser looking for new Hawaii leader

President and regional manager of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Bruce Behnke will retire at the end of this year. Behnke made the announcement to staff in September.

Behnke, who was hired as the organization's hospital administrator in 1994, became president and regional manager in February 1999. He had worked for Kaiser in various capacities since 1974. During his tenure, Kaiser's Hawaii membership grew from 210,000 to 230,000.

Kaiser has yet to name a successor, but a spokesperson for the organization said Behnke and Dr. Michael Chaffin, president of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, will be actively involved in selecting the organization's new president. The medical group is the physician arm of Kaiser.

Chevron Hawaii wins safety designation

Chevron Hawaii will be honored by the state Department of Labor on Oct. 24 for its acceptance into a program that recognizes companies for safety and health achievements in the workplace.

Chevron will be inducted into the Hawaii Voluntary Protection Program administered by the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Department of Labor.

As a designated STAR-Mentor site, Chevron Hawaii Refinery will be exempt from HIOSH programmed inspections and will mentor other employers interested in attaining the standards required by the program. Chevron is one of about 850 sites nationally to receive the designation and the first in Hawaii.

First Insurance offers speedier quotes

First Insurance Co. of Hawaii Ltd., which offers property and casualty insurance, has begun using an agency collaboration system that enables real-time interface between insurance agencies' computer systems and First Insurance's systems.

The system is designed so applications that meet pre-set underwriting parameters result in immediate quotes to the agents. In addition, a policy number can be issued right away, with the agency receiving the printed policy the next day.

Ten large agency partners are in the first group using the system, and initial results have shown increases in speed and accuracy. Currently, only agencies submitting workers' compensation policies can use the system, but First Insurance plans to add product lines.

First Insurance employs 280 people in the state. It is a subsidiary of CNA Financial Corp. and The Toko Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd.

MAINLAND

GE shares fall on worries over growth

BOSTON >> Double-digit earnings growth, a longtime benchmark for General Electric Co., may not be in the cards in 2003, analysts said today, and the conglomerate's shares closed down $1.35 to $22.

Several analysts have said stalled growth at GE plastics and prolonged downturns in the aerospace and power markets will mean only single-digit earnings growth for the company next year.

GE has not given any official forecast for 2003, but analysts and investors expect more details in early December. The company has said it would give an update before the end of the year.

"I don't think double-digit growth is likely at this point," said analyst Jeff Graff of Victory Capital Management, which holds about 28 million GE shares.

GE said Wednesday it will cut 1,000 jobs at its aircraft engine unit this year, and possibly 1,200 to 1,800 more next year if major airline customers continue to struggle.

The company plans to report third-quarter results Friday before the market opens.