ING Appoints Valerie Brown as Executive Vice President, Annuity and Wealth Management

As Baby Boomers transition into their retirement years in record numbers, the financial spotlight shines brightly on how Boomers will manage their retirement savings and income distribution challenges throughout their extended retirement years, which many experts agree could span 30 years or more for the majority of Baby Boomers.

Having recently announced its US Wealth Management platform, which addresses the evolving retirement challenges facing US consumers, today, ING US Financial Services tapped into its internal reservoir of talent to find an architect for its US Wealth Management strategy. ING US Financial Services announced that Valerie Brown, previously president, ING Advisors Network, has been named to the newly created role of executive vice president, Annuity and Wealth Management.

"ING's full platform of retirement savings, investment, and retirement income products and services align well with the emerging retirement needs of Baby Boomers," said Kathleen A Murphy, CEO, ING US Wealth Management. "Valerie's focus will be on an integration strategy that will benefit the full range of ING stakeholders. Our scaled positions in the individual retirement product market and the defined contribution product market uniquely position ING as a pioneer in the Wealth Management market."

ING's US Wealth Management business includes its 401(k), 457, and 403(b) defined contribution businesses, its Rollover/Payout business, plus its retail annuity business, and one of the industry's largest independent broker/dealer network. ING is a top five* provider of retirement plans in the 401(k), 403(b) and 457 Defined Contribution markets; a leading provider of retail annuities; and has one of the largest independent broker/dealer networks with nearly 9,000 registered representatives.

"Wealth Management -- by definition -- is an active process that generally requires the hands-on expertise of a financial professional," Brown said. "Having spent the past several years working directly with thousands of talented and expert financial professionals, I can thoroughly appreciate the importance of helping Baby Boomers navigate their way through the complex financial maze they find themselves facing. ING's Wealth Management strategy is all about creating road maps that connect defined contribution retirement plans with retail retirement plans and lead to the ultimate destination: retiring with confidence. The role of the trusted financial professional is central, which is why the time has come for ING's Wealth Management approach to the marketplace."

In addition to her role with ING's Wealth Management strategy, Brown joins the leadership team within the ING Annuity Business, and is responsible for product development, marketing and operations. "Given her diverse business experience across ING's global footprint, particularly her most recent experience with ING Advisors Network, she will bring a distinct perspective to ING's annuity business," said Harry N. Stout, president and head of ING Retail Annuity. "We're committed to distributing outstanding annuity products through our three distribution channels -- the independent broker/dealer channel; the financial institution channel; and the NYSE and Regional broker/dealer channel -- and we believe that Valerie will add immediate value to the Retail Annuity team."

Brown added: "ING has been a leader in the Retail Annuity market for years with its innovative products and commitment to working with financial professionals who understand the important role annuities can play in a comprehensive retirement savings program. This is an exciting challenge for me, and I welcome the opportunity to work within ING's annuity business. Today, Baby Boomers have concerns about the future of the safety nets that once provided financial confidence for generations of retirees. Financial products, such as variable annuities, provide downside protection and streams of income that can't be outlived and are increasingly attractive to consumers."

Brown has been with ING since 1996 and has held a variety of executive roles in life insurance, branding, strategic marketing and management development. Before becoming president of ING Advisors Network, Brown was chief-of-staff for ING Groups' Executive Committees in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where ING Group is based. She is a graduate of Oregon State University and has an MBA from Stanford University.

* Based on total number of defined contribution plans and participants, Pensions & Investments, 2006, DC Service Provider Directory

ING (NYSE: ING) is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 120,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: chuck.eudy@us.ing.com

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Chuck Eudy of ING U.S. Financial Services, +1-770-980-5209,
Mobile: +1-770-490-6420, chuck.eudy@us.ing.com

Web site: http://www.ing.com/us