Kevin Hovick, the long-time chief operating officer of EMC Insurance Group, is retiring after a career with the property/casualty insurer spanning more than 38 years.

Hovick, who also has the title of executive vice president, said he’ll step down on Jan 2, 2018.

Hovick has been executive vice president and COO since 2011. In his current position, he oversees 21 profit centers including 1 EMC branch officers integral to the company’s business model. Hovick began his EMC career as an underwriter at the Iowa insurer’s Des Moines branch in July 1979 and worked his way up the ranks sence then.

EMC president and CEO Bruce Kelley said that Hovick has been an important part of EMC’s growth and success, though plans are in place for this to continue.

“I am confident that the executive transition plan we’ve undertaken will enable EMC to continue its growth and remain financially stable,” Kelly said in prepared remarks. “We appreciate [Hovick’s] assistance in the transfer of his duties and responsibilities to a new COO.”

EMC said its “leadership development and succession planning” will lead to naming a new COO “at an appropriate time.”

For his part, Hovick, also in prepared remarks, noted EMC’s growth during his time at EMC.

“I’m pleased to have been part of the company’s development and growth from $170 million in net written premium in 1979 when I started with the company to over $1.7 billion at year-end 2016,” he said.

EMC Insurance Group is a publicly held insurance holding company focused on property/casualty insurance and reinsurance.

Source: EMC Insurance Group