Nationwide Names Steve Rasumussen CEO

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Columbus, Ohio) has named Steve Rasmussen chief executive officer. He succeeds Jerry Jurgensen, the insurer's CEO since 2000, whose departure is the result of what Nationwide characterizes as a "mutually agreed" decision on the part of Jurgensen and Nationwide's board of directors.

Rasmussen joined Nationwide in 1998 and has been president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Mutual and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company since Sept. 2003. He has also served as chairman, chief operating officer and director of Allied Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual, and as director of other Nationwide companies.

"The Board of Directors is very pleased to have someone with Steve's strong leadership skills and substantial experience move into the CEO position," commented Nationwide board member Keith Eckel. "Steve has served as Nationwide Mutual's senior operating executive for more than five years and has an excellent track record, demonstrating the operational and managerial skill to ensure Nationwide's continued success."

Eckel also thanked Jurgensen for his contributions to the company. "Under his leadership, the company has enhanced its financial discipline and has developed what we believe is a winning strategy for the future," Eckel said. "He leaves the company in a strong financial position. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

Anthony O'Donnell has covered technology in the insurance industry since 2000, when he joined the editorial staff of Insurance & Technology. As an editor and reporter for I&T and the InformationWeek Financial Services of TechWeb he has written on all areas of information ... View Full Bio