NEWARK, N.J. –Prudential Group Insurance, a business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), on Feb. 9 announced the realignment of its distribution and product management operations under James Gemus, effective immediately.
Gemus’ new title is senior vice president, Distribution & Product Management. In this new role, Gemus will have responsibility for all aspects of product strategy, product execution, distribution and account management. Gemus will be based in Roseland, N.J., reporting to Prudential Group Insurance CEO Lori Fouché.
“Integrating our product and distribution functions allows us to become more responsive to market trends and the diverse needs of our customers who rely on us for innovative solutions to help them sustain and improve the financial wellness of their employees,” said Fouché. “I’m delighted to have Jim serve in this capacity as his extensive industry experience in leading both distribution and product organizations will ensure a fast start to strengthening the development and delivery of our products and services to the marketplace.”
Gemus joined Prudential Group Insurance in January 2007 and most recently served as senior vice president of Product with overall product responsibility for Life, Disability, Voluntary and PruBenefit Funding (non-qualified benefits), as well as responsibility for International Group Benefit Solutions and the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI). Previously, he was with MetLife, where he served in a number of senior roles, including leader of its Institutional Business Service, eBusiness, Voluntary Benefits, and strategy across all MetLife businesses. Gemus also served as chairman of the board of Texas Life Insurance Company, when it was a subsidiary of MetLife, and is currently on the advisory council to the American Benefits Council Policy Board of Directors.
Additional client-facing appointments, reporting to Gemus, within the newly formed Distribution & Product Management operation include:
• Vice president Bob Love will become the new leader of the National Accounts market segment. Love has significant group sales leadership experience in all market segments, including national accounts. Love joined Prudential Group Insurance in 2014 as vice president, middle market segment. Prior to that, he served as vice president and head of Group Benefit Distribution at Guardian where he was responsible for leading national operations representing $3.7 B in revenue. Prior to that, Love spent 17 years at MetLife where he served in various capacities, most recently as senior vice president of Group Benefit Sales. While at MetLife, Love also led the Association and Affinity businesses, and was the leader of National Accounts for sales and service.
• Vice president Chuck Brousseau will lead Premier Accounts covering businesses with less than 5,000 employees. Brousseau brings diverse experience to the Premier segment. In 2012, Brousseau joined Prudential Group Insurance to lead its national small market business sales function with 15 years’ experience in the insurance industry, primarily in the management of sales and distribution of group insurance products, services, and underwriting. Prior to joining Prudential he served as regional vice president of The Hartford’s central and west regions, managing a significant book of business across small, regional, and national accounts. He also oversaw the company’s sales, marketing, and sales operations for 25 states.
“Having the best talent in place for these critical roles helps position our business to significantly enhance market capabilities,” Fouché said. “Enhancing our structure and strategies is part of a continual evolution of our work to achieve excellence in the market and a preeminent position in the industry.”
“I am confident that this new structure and experienced leadership team will enhance our product, sales, and account management capabilities to improve our value proposition for our customers and producers,” Gemus said.
Prudential Group Insurance manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term disability and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use in connection with employee and membership benefit plans. The business also sells critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment and other ancillary coverages and provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages.
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