Ever since announcing my decision to step away as American Family Insurance CEO, I’ve gotten a ton of comments from folks inside and outside our organization. It’s been great to hear from so many people. 

There’s a common theme in those messages, too. “Wow, the company has really grown during your tenure as CEO.” Or, “It’s been quite a run, I bet you’re proud of how you’re leaving things.” And, “Who would’ve thought when [former American Family Insurance President] Dan Schultz announced that we would be nearly national, that we would be … and so quickly?”

That last one always makes me smile!

It has been a transformational time during the past decade at American Family Insurance. Acquisitions and mergers, advances in technology and data, evolving our agency operations into fewer numbers and larger businesses, and people changes. 

To me, that’s been the most dramatic. I think it is safe to say – right now – the American Family Insurance enterprise is attracting, promoting, developing and retaining a workforce that is the envy of many. We have many challenges and obstacles in front of us, but we have a talented group of folks to tackle them.

It’s been fun. It’s been demanding. It’s been rewarding. And, while I appreciate the sentiment and gratitude for my time as CEO, the results are clearly the work of a group who has steered with a mindset of growth and customer satisfaction. The senior leadership team really helped to make it happen.

From my start as CEO, current Enterprise President and CEO-Elect Bill Westrate has been a valuable and trusted member of that team. In more than two decades as an actuary, product leader and senior executive, he’s built solid relationships with our exclusive agency owners that are foundational to the success we see today. And, as our mergers and acquisitions strategies have taken shape, Bill has established a deep knowledge and understanding of each operating company, its business models, customer bases and – most importantly – its people. 

Bill is a caring and compassionate leader. He’s actively engaged in the community. And, he respects American Family’s strong history while having a vision for the future. As CEO, I’ve leaned on Bill’s knowledge of our company and understanding of our industry countless times. I’ve trusted his forward-looking vision. Those qualities served our team well, and they’re going to serve him well – not only as CEO, but also as a strong community partner.

I’ve been fortunate to have Bill on our team – and my team. Now, as I look at my next phase – what’s ahead for our organization, for our workforce and our strategy – I realize the roles are reversing.

I’m on Bill’s team.

It’s my turn to help him as he takes the lead. And because of the Executive Progression strategy of the American Family Board of Directors, I pledge to give the same kind of help and support that he and others provided me during my CEO tenure – especially as I was getting started.

As a board, we talked through all the important aspects of CEO succession, with a strong depth of talent across the enterprise being a primary component of that strategy. Our leadership announcement last week was the latest step in that progression. I was lucky enough to have a talented group of folks on my team during my time as CEO … incredible visionaries, strategists and executors. Some have retired (Dan Schultz, Peter Gunder, Kristen Kirkconnell), and some will continue the work in front of us, like Bill, Fabian Fondriest, Telisa Yancy, Jessie Stauffacher and many others. 

They’ve created opportunities for us to grow and innovate for our customers, to become a more inclusive and diverse place to work, and to be a true leader in our communities. The good news is, Bill has the same kind of talent on his team – at all levels of our enterprise. Their work will continue to push us forward. 

Our foundation as a mutual company is rock-solid, too. Our strategy as a national multiline, multichannel insurance provider is sound. And, our people and commitment to an inclusive and diverse culture will continue to fuel our success. Bill was a member of the team that created this success, and soon, he’ll be leading it.

Our new structure – Bill’s team – is assembled and ready. Soon, Bill will be leading American Family through the next chapters of our success with our new structure – with his team.