Los Angeles-based insurer Farmers Insurance Group of Companies named F. Robert Woudstra as president and chief operating officer.
"Bob brings great depth to his new role," said Paul Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Farmers Insurance Group, in a statement. "He has played a significant role in guiding Farmers' overall property and casualty results to some of the best in our history. I am proud to have Bob take on this important new assignment as president of Farmers."
Mr. Woudstra fills the positions that became vacant last year when Mr. Hopkins was named CEO, a spokesman said.
Mr. Woudstra held a number of key executive positions in his tenure with Farmers and Foremost Insurance Company, a Farmers Insurance company acquired in 2000.
He joined the Foremost Corporation of America in 1973 as controller. In 1999, he was promoted to COO of Foremost, and held that position when the company was acquired by Farmers.
In 2005 he was elected to his recent position of executive vice president, property-casualty operations for Farmers, where he has been responsible for personal lines, commercial lines, specialty, claims and service operations.
His appointment became effective Jan. 1.
Farmers also named Keitha T. Schofield, executive vice president, support services, as president and COO of Farmers Services, a new support services entity that will include finance, audit, human resources, communications, procurement, real estate, service point/service centers and information technology. She also serves on the Farmers Group board of directors.
Ms. Schofield joined Farmers in 1995 as senior vice president and chief information officer. Prior to Farmers, she was vice president, technology division of Continental Airlines, where she was responsible for corporatewide technology planning, asset management, resource allocation and strategic planning.
The company also announced that:
o Jerry Carnahan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Farmers Insurance Group, was named executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
o Kevin Kelso, senior vice president and president of personal lines, was named executive vice president and president of personal lines.
o Bryan Murphy, senior vice president and chief claims officer, was named executive vice president claims.
o Paul Patsis, senior vice president of Farmers Group and president of Farmers Life, was named executive vice president for Farmers Life and will retain the title of president for Farmers Life.
Zurich Financial Services is the parent company of Farmers Group.
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