Pacific Life appoints executive vice president; current EVP to retire

Pacific Life Insurance Company has appointed Dawn Trautman as its executive vice president (EVP) of product and strategy management, effective January 1, 2017.

Trautman will succeed Rick Schindler as leader of the company’s life insurance division. In her new role, Trautman will continue to focus on the growth and profitability of the life insurance division, while continuing expansion efforts in core and new markets.

She joined Pacific Life in 2001 as a program manager in the life insurance division, where she has held a number of senior management roles with increasing responsibility over the last 12 years.

“Dawn’s strong leadership abilities, disciplined focus and ability as a business leader to partner across and influence the entire organisation make her ideally suited to this role,” said Jim Morris, Pacific Life chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Schindler has had a career spanning more than 26 years with Pacific Life, including the last three years as leader of the life insurance division. He will transition into an advisory role with a focus on innovation and distribution strategy, until his planned retirement in December 2017. He will then transition into a consultative role at Pacific Life.

Morris said: “Under Rick’s stewardship, the life insurance division embarked on a significant effort to build out organisational and leadership capabilities while pursuing growth initiatives in new markets.

“We thank Rick for his many years of exemplary service and look forward to his continued contributions in a consultative capacity. Moving forward, the board and I have full confidence in Dawn to continue our positive momentum in growing our life insurance business.”