Trustmark board appoints new CEO

LAKE FOREST - The board of directors of Trustmark Mutual Holding Co. has selected Kevin Slawin as president and CEO of the nationwide employee benefits provider.

Slawin assumes leadership of the company following the retirement of Joseph Pray after a 16-year career at Trustmark, the last seven as CEO.

Trustmark Chairman David Weick said the transition will be a smooth one, as Slawin has been a member of Trustmark's board of directors since 2016 and has extensive financial and insurance industry experience.

"Kevin brings a unique combination of experience and knowledge to Trustmark," said Weick. "He has industry leadership experience across a number of executive roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Operations and Technology.

"In addition, with his tenure as a director, he knows Trustmark, its culture and its client-first, caring philosophy," he added. "Trustmark is poised for growth opportunities in its markets, and Kevin is well prepared to help shape the company's strategy and lead operational execution."

Slawin has recently advised private equity and hedge funds on insurance industry-related acquisitions and investments. Within the industry, he spent 14 years at Allstate serving in several executive positions at Allstate Financial Group, which encompassed Lincoln Benefit Life Co, American Heritage Life Co, Allstate Bank, Allstate Financial Distributors, LLC, Allstate Life and Institutional Markets. Leadership roles included President, Allstate Financial Distribution, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Operations and Technology, and CEO, Allstate Bank. Slawin also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Distribution for FBL Financial Group for several years.

Slawin earned a Masters of Management at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. He also currently serves as a National Board Member, Executive Committee, of the Children's Heart Foundation, the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research.