Jewelers Mutual Shuffles Management, Looks for CFO

Neenah, Wis.-based Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. announced a management restructuring effective June 1. The changes mostly shuffled the deck of personnel already within the company, with the only outside search for a chief financial officer still ongoing, according to CEO Ron Harder.

Harder explained that he has been evaluating the company’s management structure as part of an overall succession planning process for all levels of management.

Five individuals were promoted or assigned new responsibilities to the company’s executive team:

—Mike Maley, vice president of underwriting, will assume expanded responsibility for personal and commercial lines underwriting, uniting these areas into one functional division.

—David Sexton, vice president of loss prevention, will establish a loss prevention department that further strengthens Jewelers Mutual’s expertise in this area and enhances the services it provides to its jeweler customers. Loss prevention is one of Jewelers Mutual’s competitive strengths, and Sexton has been the unofficial leader of that effort in the company.

—Sue Fritz was promoted to vice president of marketing and communications. She has led the communications department and supported the company’s marketing efforts for 10 years.

—Wayne Cwik was promoted to vice president of actuarial services and JMI Insurance Services. Cwik will direct rate setting, rate and form filings with state insurance departments, and compliance with regulatory requirements. He also will oversee the efforts of JMI Insurance Services, the insurer’s wholly-owned agency serving Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, and Washington.

—Connie Rank-Smith is now vice president of human resources and administration, adding responsibility for the company’s purchasing, supply, and mail room functions.

Harder will continue as CEO, while Darin Kath will continue as chief operating officer. Other members of the new executive team, which will include a chief financial officer, are Jeff Mills, vice president of claims, and Bev Kargus, vice president of information technology.

Jewelers Mutual said it is the only nationwide insurer that specializes in protecting jewelry businesses and individuals’ personal jewelry. It is licensed in all 50 states and insures more than 10,000 jewelry businesses and $1.4 billion of individuals’ jewelry. The company’s strong financial position is reflected in its continued “A+” rating from A.M. Best.