As many of you know, our General Counsel Greg Woodworth is retiring at the end of May.
It is hard for me to imagine this company without Greg. He has been much more than my General Counsel. He has been my teammate, my friend, and a close adviser every step of the way since I became CEO a decade ago. Promoting Greg to the position of General Counsel was the first personnel decision I made as CEO, and I’m happy to say that it was one of the best decisions made early in my tenure.
General Counsel Greg Woodworth will be retiring at the end of May
Greg has been with National Life since 2006. He became General Counsel in 2009 and has transformed our 40-member Law and Compliance Team into a proactive solution-oriented group that is highly regarded throughout our company and within the industry. Today that team helps us overcome hurdles instead of just telling us the hurdles exist.
Greg, who started his legal career in Portland, Maine, will be returning to the Maine coast. Please join me in thanking him for his contributions to National Life and wishing him well in retirement.
I didn’t have to look very far to find the best person to fill this critical role. I have asked Chris Zimmerman to be our next General Counsel and newest member of the Executive Team, effective June 1st.
Chris Zimmerman will assume the role of General Counsel as of June 1st
Chris, who has been with National Life for six years, is currently assistant general counsel. In that role he has provided legal support for life insurance operations and has the responsibility for much of National Life Group’s litigation. He knows our business well and has developed strong relationships both within our organization and in the field.
In searching for a new general counsel I looked first at the candidates’ legal acumen. What set Chris apart from all the other candidates is that his sharp legal skills are complemented by his personality. He is authentic, grounded and humble – a true servant leader.
Chris came to us after a decade at WilmerHale, one of this country’s pre-eminent law firms. He received both his undergraduate and law degree from Georgetown University.
Chris and his wife Cara have three children and live in Stowe.
Please join me in congratulating Chris on his new role.
Cheers,
Mehran