CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) today announced that Robert O. Best, executive
vice president of Global Services, will be retiring from the company at
year end.
“Words can’t express how valuable Bob has been to our company over the
years,” said Thomas R. Watjen, chief executive officer of Unum. “In
addition to serving at one point earlier in his career as chief
operating officer of Colonial Life, Bob has for so many years guided our
Information Technology efforts and most recently launched our Global
Services initiative that is critically important to our future success.
He has made a tremendous contribution as a member of my executive team
in helping to run the company.
“We will certainly miss Bob’s leadership, and we wish him well in
retirement,” added Watjen.
Best began his career with Colonial Life, where he rose to executive
vice president and chief operating officer. He later was named senior
vice president and chief information officer for Provident, followed by
executive vice president and chief operating officer for Unum US. In
2010, Best was named executive vice president of Global Services for
Unum. In this capacity, he oversees information technology as well as
the development and execution of a global operating model across all
Unum companies.
“As I look back on my 39 years with Unum, Provident and Colonial Life,
I’m proud to say they’ve been both satisfying and rewarding,” said Best.
“We built a global IT organization that is the backbone of Unum and that
has allowed the company to launch innovative products and services. We
also embarked on a groundbreaking globalization initiative to find ways
we can operate more effectively throughout the company.
“In short, there is much to be proud of, and none of it would have been
possible without the support of the many outstanding people here at
Unum,” Best continued. “I’m fortunate to have had so many wonderful
opportunities during my career, and I wish Tom and the company well in
the years ahead.”
Watjen announced that Chris Jerome, currently senior vice president of
Risk Operations for Unum US, will join the Global Services organization
as senior vice president of Global Services and assume Bob’s role at
year end.
“Chris has been heavily involved in our globalization initiative, and
both Bob and I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead the
Global Services organization and build on the strong foundation that has
been established,” Watjen said. “Bob will be working closely with Chris
through the remainder of the year to ensure a smooth transition.”
ABOUT UNUM
Unum (www.unum.com)
is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and
services and the largest provider of group and individual disability
income protection insurance in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Unum Group
Media:
Jim Sabourin, 423-294-6300
or
Investors:
Thomas
A. H. White, 423-294-8996
Rob Lockerman, 423-294-7498
Source: Unum Group