Ms. Zuraitis will replace outgoing Horace Mann President & CEO Peter H. Heckman
Marita Zuraitis has been named the new President & CEO of the Horace Mann Educators Corporation. The announcement was made yesterday by the company’s Board of Directors. Ms. Zuraitis will take over the reigns of the Springfield, IL company on May 13, 2013. The company plans, however, to have her work with both the Board of Directors and the outgoing President and CEO Peter H. Heckman over the next several months to ensure an orderly transition of power.
“Marita Zuraitis has had an exemplary, 30-year career in the insurance industry and is a well-known and highly-respected executive,” said Gabriel Shaheen, Chairman of the Board of Horace Mann Educators Corporation. “Peter Heckman and his management team have built a solid foundation that has positioned the company for continued success, and we are excited to have Marita join us to further develop the quality of service provided to the educator market, profitably grow the business, and continue Horace Mann’s commitment to deliver exceptional value to its shareholders.”
Ms. Zuraitis will resign from her Executive Vice President position with The Hanover Insurance Group on May 10, 2013 before taking over at Horace Mann. She has been with the Worcester-based insurer since 2004 where she served as President of Hanover’s Property and Casualty Companies with responsibility for the company’s personal and commercial lines operations at Citizens Insurance Company of America, The Hanover Insurance Company and their affiliates. These Hanover companies represent approximately $3 billion in annual net written premium.
“Marita has provided outstanding leadership of our property and casualty companies and has been a tremendous thought partner since joining our organization in 2004,” said Frederick H. Eppinger, chief executive officer at The Hanover. “She has played a key leadership role as we have transformed our company, helping us build a world class team, a distinctive value proposition, and strong, mutually-beneficial partnerships with the best agents and brokers in our business. With her help, we have positioned The Hanover as a leading national company with international capabilities. We wish her the very best in her new endeavors.”
Prior to joining The Hanover, Ms. Zuraitis was with The St. Paul/Travelers Companies for six years where she rose to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Lines. Earlier in her career, she held a number of underwriting and field management positions with USF&G and Aetna Life and Casualty.
Horace Mann, founded in 1945 by Educators for Educators, is currently the largest national multi-line insurance company focusing on educators’ financial needs.
