Milwaukee, July 30, 2012—Assurant Health, a leading provider of major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit health plans for individuals, families and small employers, today announced leadership changes to expand the array of affordable health care coverage options available to consumers.
Steve Dziedzic, senior vice president and chief financial officer, moves to the newly created post of senior vice president, new business development, and Mark Berquist, vice president and chief actuary, is promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer for Assurant Health, effective Aug. 15, 2012.
"The creation of a new business development structure represents an important investment for our company and demonstrates our confidence in the growing marketplace for affordable health care solutions," said Adam Lamnin, president and chief executive officer of Assurant Health. "We are very pleased to welcome Steve and Mark into their new leadership roles as we continue to successfully evolve our business and provide additional health care offerings to consumers."
In his new role, Dziedzic will report to Lamnin and will lead a new team dedicated to developing innovative solutions that meet consumers' need for affordability. He joined Assurant Health in 2000 and held various leadership roles in its actuarial and finance departments before being appointed chief financial officer in 2010. In addition to his technical expertise, Dziedzic has an in-depth understanding of the business and leads a special project team focused on understanding how consumers think about value and affordability. The knowledge and consumer insights gained will help lay the foundation for future business development initiatives.
Dziedzic holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California, and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and member of the American Academy of Actuaries (AAA). He serves on the board of directors and is treasurer for Community Care, Inc., a managed care organization serving elders and adults with disabilities in southeastern Wisconsin.
In his new post, Berquist will report to Mike Peninger, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Assurant, Inc. and serve as a member of the Assurant Health executive team. Since joining the company in 2002, Berquist has held a number of positions with progressive responsibility. In 2010, he became vice president and chief actuary, a role he will retain along with his CFO responsibilities. Berquist's leadership of pricing strategy helps Assurant Health maximize consumer value and comply with new health care reform requirements.
Berquist also holds the FSA designation and is a member of the AAA. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in mathematics, he serves on the board of directors for The Guest House, a non-profit organization serving the homeless in the Milwaukee community.
About Assurant Health
Assurant Health is the brand name for a family of health insurance products focused on providing a variety of affordable plan choices to consumers. The portfolio of health care products includes major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit plans for individuals, families and small employers. Assurant Health is committed to providing access to convenient health care delivery, easy-to-understand products and value-added services that help customers better manage their health care dollars and get the most out of their coverage. Assurant Health's products are underwritten and issued by John Alden Life Insurance Company, Union Security Insurance Company and Time Insurance Company, which has been in business since 1892. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Assurant Health employs approximately 2,000 employees. www.assuranthealth.com
Additional Company Information
Assurant Health is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has approximately $27 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com
Media Contact:
Sue Pierman
Media Relations Manager
Assurant Health
T: 414-299-7864
C: 414-405-4436
e-mail: [email protected]