Dean Hildebrandt Named CEO of Assurex Global

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Assurex Global has announced the appointment of Dean Hildebrandt as CEO, replacing Jim Hackbarth, who is retiring after nearly 18 years with the organization.

Hildebrandt, who has served as Assurex Global president since September 2019, is the latest in a series of strategic management changes implemented to position the firm for future growth.

“Jim and I started talking about a new strategic direction for Assurex Global almost three years ago,” Hildebrandt said. “Since then, we’ve developed a solid strategic plan, started executing on that plan, and brought in significant new expertise to continue executing at a high level.”

Hildebrandt, who joined Assurex Global in March 2019 as executive vice president, has more than 25 years in the business, including CEO of Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting, a national, multi-line insurance agency. He also led the former Assurex Global Partner, Ahmann-Martin — a provider of risk management, employee benefits, and financial services — before its acquisition by Associated Banc-Corp. in 2015. He also served on the Assurex Global board of directors from 2014 to 2015.

“The Assurex Global Board of Directors, Dean and myself have been working on the perpetuation of executive leadership for the past 2.5 years. I am thrilled to have Dean appointed to the CEO position as he has the vision, passion, and significant industry experience to lead Assurex Global through our new strategic plan,” Hackbarth said.        

Since joining Assurex Global, Hildebrandt has been continuing to build the leadership team and bring in new talent. Management team members that have been previously announced include:

• Dan Gowen, senior vice president, employee benefits practice leader, has 26 years in the industry, including ten years as national practice leader for Wells Fargo Insurance. Gowen is responsible for assisting Partners in growing their employee benefits resources. This is in addition to contributing to the overall Assurex Global business strategy, new products and services, training, and education. He is based in Chicago.

• Julie Loney, senior vice president of education, is focused on producer training, the Leadership Institute, the Learning Academy, and steering the evolution of Assurex Global’s practice groups. She has nearly 30 years of property and casualty insurance experience, including at Ahmann-Martin, and Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting. Julie is based in Minnesota.

• Teric Steines, senior vice president of marketing & innovation, has led the marketing, communications, and IT teams in various industries for over 25 years. Before joining Assurex Global, he held numerous leadership positions in addition to running the personal and small business insurance divisions at Ahmann-Martin, Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting, and Associated Bank. He is based in Minneapolis.

• Tim Wiechers, executive vice president and chief operations officer, is responsible for Assurex Global’s overall corporate operations, including finance, technology, subsidiary and captive management, and compliance. Wiechers has more than 30 years of insurance company and broker experience. He began his career at Ohio Hospital Insurance Company, where he was promoted to president. He later became president of a subsidiary agency purchased by Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes Inc. of Baltimore, for which he then served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer. He is based at Assurex Global headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

• Marshall Wunderlich, executive vice president, property & casualty, leads the firm’s P&C practice, supporting Assurex Global’s strategic initiatives for all regions and overseeing carrier relationships, practice groups, and third-party strategic relationships. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, including at HDH Group, Johnson & Higgins, and Chubb. He is based in Pennsylvania.

“This is the team that will build on the consistent growth and success that Jim Hackbarth established for our Partner firms over the years,” Hildebrandt said. “We already see positive impacts and results at a level we could not have anticipated a few short months ago. This is an extremely exciting time for all of us, and I’m honored for the opportunity to help guide Assurex Global into the future.”

About Assurex Global Assurex Global is the world’s largest privately-held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage group. The company operates as an exclusive Partnership, supported by more than 100 of the world’s most respected and successful insurance brokers. For more information, visit assurexglobal.com.