Jack Charles Salzwedel is board chair of American Family Insurance, retiring as chief executive officer on Dec. 31, 2021, a role he held since November 2011.[1][2][3]
Education
editSalzwedel was born in DeForest, Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and business administration from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.[4] While there, he was a student representative on the board of regents.[5]
Career
editHe started his career after college with American Family Insurance in 1983 as a claims adjuster. He became an agent in 1985 and a district sales manager in 1988. In 1995, he became a state sales director of Wisconsin East.[6] Then, in the year 2000, he became vice president of the Personal Lines Division and then vice president of the Life/Health Division in 2003. In 2004, he was elected as the executive vice president and in 2006 he became the company COO. By 2007, he was the president and COO of American Family Mutual. Finally, in November 2011 he was elected as the chairman and CEO.[4][2]
As CEO, Salzwedel has overseen:
- The 2012 acquisition of The General Insurance.[7]
- The 2013 acquisition of Homesite Insurance.[8]
- The inaugural jersey sponsor of the 2017 MLS expansion team Atlanta United FC[9]
- The 2017 partnership with Milwaukee World Festival Inc. to become the first presenting sponsor of Summerfest in Milwaukee.[10]
- The 2017 acquisitions of HomeGauge® and Networked Insights.[11][12]
- The 2018 merger with Main Street America.[13]
- The 2019 agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers to rename Miller Park, American Family Field after the 2020 season.[14]
- The 2021 commitment of $105 million to reducing equity gaps.[15]
Salzwedel is considered "the most engaged Fortune 500 CEO on Twitter" as @AmFamJack.[16] In 2017, he earned first place in the “Executive Visibility” category of PR Daily's Media Relations Awards.[17] He also blogs frequently on a variety of topics.[18][19]
Boards
editSalzwedel is co-chair of the American Family Children's Hospital advisory board. He also serves on a number of industry trade organization boards, including the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America,[20] the Insurance Institute for High Safety,[21] and the Insurance Information Institute.[5]
Personal life
editSalzwedel is married.[22] He and his wife, Sarah, received the 2018 United Way of Dane County Tocqueville Society Award.[23] The couple established the Slife Institute for Social Work Consultation, Research and Training at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where they met.[24]
References
edit- ^ Sullivan, Dennis. "An Interview with Jack Salzwedel, Chairman & CEO, American Family Insurance". Nolan Management Consultants. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Jack Charles Salzwedel: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ Journal, Emilie Heidemann | Wisconsin State. "'Uniquely positioned': Bill Westrate ready to take on new decade as American Family CEO". madison.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ a b "Jack Salzwedel". World of CEOS. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Jack Salwedel". American Family Insurance. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Jack Salwedel". Business Week. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ says, Ray (2012-09-26). "American Family Insurance to Acquire Permanent General". Claims Journal. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "American Family Insurance to Acquire Homesite Group for $616M". Insurance Journal. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "American Family Insurance to be Atlanta United's first jersey sponsor". Retrieved 2017-03-07. [verification needed]
- ^ "Summerfest signs American Family to major sponsorship that includes new amphitheater". www.bizjournals.com. January 26, 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ "American Family Insurance Acquires Data Analytics Firm; Also Home Tech Firm". Insurance Journal. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2019-03-21. [verification needed]
- ^ "American Family Insurance acquires software firm Networked Insights". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-03-21. [verification needed]
- ^ "American Family Insurance announces merger plan with Main Street America Group". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ Wagner, Andrew. "American Family To Take Over Naming Rights At Miller Park In 2021". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ Journal, Shelley K. Mesch | Wisconsin State. "American Family Insurance commits $105 million to reducing equity gaps". madison.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ "CEO Social Media Use Is Increasing—Slowly". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Executive Visibility - PR Daily". PR Daily. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Beyond the Tweet: Insights From @AmFamJack Salzwedel". Carrier Management. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Beyond the Tweet". Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Board of Directors". www.pciaa.net. Archived from the original on 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Insurance Safety Institute Elects Board Members; Allstate's Yager Becomes Chairman". Insurance Journal. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Jack and Sarah Salzwedel Honored at United Way's Tocqueville Reception". United Way of Dane County. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Waunakee couple receives United Way award". Hometown News LP. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- ^ "Wartburg social work program gets $1.5 million". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2019-04-25.