COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In a commitment to growth and to develop executive talent, Nationwide Chief Executive Officer Steve Rasmussen announced today that the leaders for the companys retirement plans business and its property & casualty direct channel will be switching roles. Larry Hilsheimer will lead Nationwide Retirement Plans and Anne Arvia will lead Nationwide Direct, Affinity and Growth Solutions.

Nationwide is a strong company with many talented people. We remain fully committed to our public and private sector retirement plan business partners, to our direct, affinity and growth lines and to our members, said Rasmussen. My philosophy is that fresh leadership perspective and successful ideas from one area of the company will lead to benefits in another. We made similar leadership changes back in 2009 that were beneficial for our leaders and the company as a whole. Im confident the end result of the changes we are announcing today will make us even stronger and better able to deliver our On Your Side promise.

Larry Hilsheimer has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Retirement Plans. Nationwide is one of the leading providers of public and private sector retirement plans in the country. He will retain oversight of Nationwide Bank. Hilsheimer joined Nationwide as executive vice president and chief financial officer in 2007 coming from Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP where he served as partner, vice chairman and regional managing partner. He has served on the boards of several community organizations, including Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Battelle for Kids, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

Anne Arvia has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Direct, Affinity and Growth Solutions (NDAGS). Arvia currently serves as the leader for Nationwide Retirement Plans. NDAGS includes Nationwides direct property & casualty sales channel, specialty insurance, affinity partnerships, and Veterinary Pet Insurance. Arvia joined Nationwide in 2006 as president of Nationwide Bank prior to assuming her role as leader of Retirement Plans in 2009. Prior to joining Nationwide, Arvia spent 15 years at ShoreBank in Chicago.

Additionally, Rasmussen announced that Mark Berven has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Product Management Officer. In this new role, Berven will oversee strategy for the Nationwide enterprise and the product organization for property & casualty business lines. Berven joined Nationwide in 1994 and has served as a regional vice president and most recently as senior vice president of product and pricing for all P&C operations.

The changes are effective immediately. Hilsheimer will report to Kirt Walker, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Financial Services. Arvia will report to Mark Pizzi, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Insurance. Berven will report to Rasmussen.

About Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poors. The company provides customers a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and specialty health services. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com.

Life insurance is issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company or Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio.

Originally posted here:
Nationwide Names New Leaders for Retirement Plans and P&C Direct Channel