Telisa Yancy, president of American Family Insurance Direct, has been named president of the American Family Insurance Group of companies, American Family announced on Tuesday morning.
This position was previously held by CEO and President Bill Westrate who succeeded Jack Salzwedel upon Salzwedel’s retirement at the end of 2021.
“Telisa’s strong focus on evolving customer preferences, combined with her broad and deep organizational experience, position her to lead operations across the diverse American Family Insurance Group,” said Westrate in a statement. “She’s built strong relationships with our agency owners and distribution partners, and has clearly demonstrated the flexibility, resilience and innovative thinking needed to lead during an ever-changing business and economic landscape.”
Westrate will remain CEO as Yancey takes on the role of president. In addition to the direct sales companies, American Family Group includes American Family Insurance and Main Street America Insurance which sell and service products through exclusive and independent agency owners, respectively.
Yancy joined the organization as a marketing director in 2009, leading a major rebranding effort for American Family Insurance and subsequently becoming Marketing Vice President and then Chief Marketing Officer, according to a press release from American Family. In 2019, Yancy was named Chief Operating Officer, and in 2021, she became president of the organization’s direct sales channels, which include insurance companies CONNECT, Homesite and The General.
Yancy, a graduate of the University of Illinois who earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business, will begin her new role on Jan. 1, 2023.
