COUNTRY Financial named a new chief executive officer, choosing to promote from within.

Jim Jacobs is taking on the top job as of early 2019, serving as chief executive officer for each of COUNTRY Financial’s operating companies under general direction of the president and board of directors of the companies, COUNTRY Financial said.

Jacobs replaces Kurt Bock, who is retiring on Jan. 31 after seven years as CEO.

Jacobs has served as general counsel, security and chief legal officer for COUNTRY Financial, Illinois Farm Bureau and other affiliated companies since 2008. He was an attorney and assistant corporate security officer in IFB’s Office of General Counsel from 2005-2008. He also has a long background serving as a litigation attorney in Louisiana, and was a partner in the New Orleans law firm of Murphy, Rogers, Sloss and Gambel.

Jacobs, in prepared remarks, suggested he’d stay the course with COUNTRY Financial’s ongoing mission.

“Illinois Farm Bureau founded COUNTRY Financial to protect farms and families nearly a century ago, and that financial security mission continues,” Jacobs said. “I look forward to working alongside our financial representatives and employees to serve our customers.”

COUNTRY Financial’s groups of companies provide insurance, financial products and services, in areas including auto, home, life and commercial insurance. The company has customers in 39 states.

Source: COUNTRY Financial