Governance

Marita Zuraitis is Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horace Mann Educators Corporation. She joined Horace Mann as President and Chief Executive officer–elect in May 2013 and assumed her present role in September of that year. Prior to joining Horace Mann, she was President of the property and casualty insurance companies of The Hanover Insurance Group with responsibilities for both personal and commercial lines representing $3 billion in annual premium. She was also a member of Hanover’s Executive Leadership team. Prior to joining The Hanover in 2004, she served in senior management positions at The St. Paul/ Travelers Companies, USF&G and Aetna Life and Casualty.

Zuraitis is a proven leader in the property and casualty industry, and her 30-year career includes leadership positions in both home office and field environments. The breadth of her experience provides her with a unique understanding of the industry, which has enabled her to bring exceptional knowledge and insight to the organizations she has supported. She has a strong connection to Horace Mann’s educator niche through several family members who are teachers.

Zuraitis holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and has completed the Advanced Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Institute for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters (The Institutes), and is a member of the Board of Directors of Citizens Financial Group. She is a past board member of the Worcester Academy, a private secondary school in Worcester, Ma.

Mr. Conklin was appointed to his present position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2017. He joined the Company as Senior Vice President and Controller in January 2002 and was named the Acting Chief Financial Officer in January 2017. Mr. Conklin previously served as Vice President of Kemper Insurance from January 2000 through January 2002, where he was responsible for all corporate financial reporting and accounting operations; Vice President and Controller of the Company from July 1998 through January 2000; and Vice President and Controller of Pekin Insurance from September 1992 through June 1998. He has seven years of public accounting experience with KPMG Peat Marwick from 1985 to 1992, specializing in its insurance industry practice.

Mr. Carley was appointed to his present position as Executive Vice President in November 2019. He joined the Company in January 2016 as General Counsel. He assumed the additional responsibilities of Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer in May 2016 and was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2016. Mr. Carley previously served as Associate General Counsel at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, an insurance provider, since 2008. Prior to that, he spent 10 years in private practice at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP (now known as Dentons), most recently as partner of the firm. Mr. Carley has more than 30 years of private practice and corporate experience, which includes extensive experience representing the insurance and financial services industry.

Mr. Sharpe joined the Company in January 2012 as Executive Vice President, Annuity and Life. Mr. Sharpe was previously with Genworth Financial, Inc. from 1999 to 2011 where he most recently served as Senior Vice President. Over the last 12 years in various positions with Genworth, Mr. Sharpe gained an extensive annuity and life background while leading a variety of successful growth, product development, strategic, marketing and sales initiatives.

Mr. McAnena joined the company in May 2023. He most recently served as President of Personal Lines and earlier President of Distribution, Life and Financial Services for Farmers Insurance®. Prior to that, he with Liberty Mutual Group for more than 25 years. In these roles, Mr. McAnena helped drive sustained, profitable growth through multiple distribution outlets. He is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and holds a BBA degree in Actuarial Science from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Mr. Desrochers was appointed as acting head of the Property & Casualty business in April 2020. He has more than 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, primarily in personal lines. He joined Horace Mann in 2015 as Chief Corporate Actuary. Prior to joining Horace Mann, Desrochers held the position of president for the Personal Lines business unit of The Hanover Insurance Group from 2008 to 2014. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a Member of the American Actuarial Association, and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

Ms. Johnson was appointed to her present position as Senior Vice President in November 2019. She joined the Company in 2002 as Assistant Controller and was appointed Vice President and Controller in April 2017. Prior to joining the Company, she was with MSI Insurance from 1991 to 2002 where she held multiple positions, including Vice President and Controller, responsible for financial planning and all property and casualty accounting and reporting functions. Ms. Johnson has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Ms. Thayer was appointed to her present position of Chief Human Resources Officer in March 2020 and was appointed Senior Vice President in October 2020. She joined the Company as Vice President, Executive Compensation and Benefits in October 2017. Prior to joining the Company, she was with COUNTRY Financial, a multi-line mutual insurance carrier, from 1998 to 2017 where she most recently served as Director, Total Rewards. During her tenure at COUNTRY Financial, she held various positions of increasing responsibility in both Finance and Human Resources. Ms. Thayer has over 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.

Mr. Weckenbrock was appointed to the position of head of the Life & Retirement business in October 2019. He joined the Company as Vice President, Life & Retirement in March 2018. Prior to joining Horace Mann, Weckenbrock held senior positions leading sales, product and business development, as well as legal and compliance teams at Ameritas and Union Central Life Insurance Companies. He holds a B.A. in Economics/Government from Centre College, a J.D. from Salmon P. Chase School of Law, as well as multiple industry designations and licenses.