December 22, 2022
BLOOMINGTON, IL – COUNTRY Financial® will undergo several executive level leadership changes that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The changes include a retirement announcement of the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Miles Kilcoin, who has served in his most recent position since 2015 and started with the company in 1984. Senior Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer, Brad Hildestad, also transitions his role with his retirement effective January 2023.
“We’re proud of our effective succession planning which continues to build a strong pipeline of leadership talent. These changes support our company strategy and demonstrate our commitment to successful development, and long-term career growth for our employees,” said Jim Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer.
At the start of the new year Rob McDade will be promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Strategy Officer. McDade currently serves as Senior Vice President Property/Casualty and has done so since 2019. His previous roles with COUNTRY Financial include Vice President of Agency Operations, Vice President of Customer Service, Vice President of Financial and Brokerage Solutions, Vice President of Trust Services, and Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel.
Joel Myers currently serves as Corporate Controller and Enterprise Strategy Vice President and will be promoted to Senior Vice President & Corporate Controller. Myers joined COUNTRY Financial in 2001 as an Accountant. Throughout his 21-year career at COUNTRY, he has served in various positions, including Vice President and Corporate Controller, Director of Accounting Systems, Reporting and Planning, Manager of Cost Accounting, Supervisor of Check Preparation and Supervisor of Data Control.
Adam Garey will transition from Vice President of Operations Services to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Garey started with COUNTRY in 2000 as a Project Manager in Technology and Marketing and has also served the organization in leadership roles within Operational Excellence, Technology, Client Services, and Operations Services.
Kelvin Schill will transition from Senior Vice President Financial Services to Senior Vice President of Property/Casualty. Schill previously served as Chief Actuary of COUNTRY Life Insurance Company and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company. He joined COUNTRY in May 2012 as Vice President Financial Products.
Chad Allen, Senior Vice President & Chief Risk Officer, will also make a transition into the role of Senior Vice President, Financial Services. Allen began his career with the Illinois Farm Bureau as an Attorney for the Office of General Counsel in 2003. He was later appointed General Attorney in 2006. Allen joined COUNTRY and served as Manager of Financial Security Field Support from 2007-2008, Director of Agency Administration and Sales Practice Compliance from 2008-2012, Vice President of Financial and Brokerage Solutions from 2012-2016, and Vice President of Investment Services from 2016-2019.
Carl Bridges currently serves as Vice President Administrative Services and will be promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Risk Officer. Previously, he served as Director of Enterprise Procurement. Bridges joined COUNTRY as Manager of Enterprise Procurement (formerly the Vendor Management Office) in July 2014.
Heather Moore currently serves as Director Corporate Internal Auditing and will be promoted to Vice President of Risk & Compliance. Moore started her career with COUNTRY Financial in 2000 as an Internal Auditor. In 2008, she became Supervisor Corporate Internal Auditing, then served for two years as an Operational Excellence Black Belt before returning to her supervisor position in 2011.
Kilcoin, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, will move into a CEO Advisor role until his retirement at the end of 2023. Kilcoin has held senior leadership positions in Accounting, Agency, Compliance and Finance.
COUNTRY Financial® is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.
About COUNTRY Financial®
COUNTRY Financial serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States and offers a full range of financial products and services from auto, home, business, farm and life insurance to retirement planning services, investment management and annuities.