EMC Insurance CEO Kelley To Retire in March; Jean Named as Successor

Bruce Kelley, CEO, president and treasurer, has informed the Employers Mutual Casualty Co. (EMC) board of directors that he is retiring in March, 2020 after 35 years with the insurer

Scott Jean, currently executive vice president for Finance and Strategy, will succeed Kelley.

In anticipation of Kelley’s retirement, EMC said its board has been working over the last several years on a succession plan.

As part of that transition process now that Kelley has announced a retirement date, Kelley will resign as president and treasurer on Jan. 3, 2020. As of that date, Jean will be named president and treasurer of EMC reporting directly to the EMCC board of directors. On March 11, 2020 Kelley will retire as CEO, and Jean will become president, treasurer and CEO.

Kelley has had a 35-year career with EMC. Between 1991 and 2018, premiums climbed from $505 million to $1.9 billion, surplus increased from $278 million to $1.7 billion and assets rose from $1 billion to $4 billion.

Kelley joined EMC in 1985 as the company’s first in-house general counsel and served in that position for four years. In 1989, Kelley was promoted to executive vice president. In this role, he managed the marketing and expense projection plans, and oversaw branch staffing, the annual branch managers conference and agency marketing. Kelley became president and chief operating officer in 1991 and was named chief executive officer in 1992 when his father, Robb Kelley, retired.

“I have been honored to lead the company that was founded by my great grandfather, John Alexander Gunn,” Kelley said in prepared remarks. The original focus of the company was selling workman’s compensation insurance to employers in Iowa. And I am proud of how we have expanded the company to offering commercial lines property and casualty insurance products in more than 40 states.”

Under Kelley’s leadership, the company was listed on the Forbes Most Trustworthy Companies list and ranking on Chief Executive magazine’s best companies for leaders. He led EMC into new territories and expanded its scope.

Kelley will continue to serve as a board member for both EMCC and the EMC Insurance Foundation.

Kelley is past chairman of the Insurance Information Institute and the American Association of Insurance Services, and a member of the board of directors of the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association.

Scott Jean

Scott Jean joined EMC as an actuary in 1991. He was promoted to vice president and chief actuary in 2009 and executive vice president in 2015. In 2018, Jean moved into the position of executive vice president for Finance & Strategy overseeing accounting, actuary, corporate risk management, EMC Reinsurance, information technology, investments, corporate strategy and innovation.