Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is on the hunt for a new leader, a process set in motion by the announcement that its long-time president and CEO plans to retire by the end of 2015.

Jim Kennedy has been in the top slot at Ohio Mutual since 2003, and he’s credited with growing the company through acquisitions. He also expanded Ohio Mutual’s operations from one state to seven (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont).

Ohio Mutual has also boosted revenue by 78 percent, tripled its surplus and expanded its assets by 140 percent under Kennedy’s tenure.

Ohio Mutual’s board of directors retained a national executive search firm to find a new executive who will replace Kennedy, with a goal of having a new leader in place by the end of 2015.

“While this announcement begins the process toward a deliberate and thoughtful transition to a new leader for Ohio Mutual, I want to assure our agent partners and policyholders that each and every associate is strongly committed to maintaining focus on our daily business and on the financial security of our mutual policyholders,” Kennedy said in prepared remarks.

Source: Ohio Mutual Insurance Group