COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the
leading provider of voluntary insurance in the United States, announced today that
Michael J. Tomlinson, a 34-year
sales veteran with Aflac U.S., has been named senior vice
president, director of Sales. Tomlinson is replacing Thomas R. Giddens, who is stepping down from
this position effective at the end of 2014.
Tomlinson, 56, joined Aflac in 1980 as a sales associate in
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Mike
progressed through the Aflac coordinator ranks of district sales
coordinator (DSC) and regional sales coordinator (RSC) in
Minnesota before assuming the role
of State Sales Coordinator (SSC) of North and South Dakota in 1989, which is currently the
leading state organization in Aflac for sales per capita and in
force premium per capita as well as one of Aflac's top overall
producing states. Mike was promoted to the position of vice
president, territory director for the Central Territory in
May 2008.
Regarding the announcement about Tomlinson, Aflac Chairman and
CEO Daniel P. Amos said, "Mike has
performed exceptionally well each stop along the way during his
lengthy career at Aflac, particularly in leading our North Dakota and South Dakota operation to the highest
penetration level in the country. He commands the respect of the
hard-working field force and is admired throughout the company.
Mike has the proven track record and capability to create a new era
of dramatic sales growth here at Aflac."
Giddens added, "After more than 30 years with Aflac I am
confident that our passionate and dedicated sales team is in good
hands with a leader like Mike
Tomlinson at the helm. With more than three decades under
his belt, Mike knows exactly what our independent agents and
brokers need to succeed. He is the right person for the job."
Giddens, 59, joined Aflac in 1983 as assistant vice president
before serving in the field for more than 20 years, where he became
the youngest person ever named to the Aflac Sales Hall of Fame. He
was a regional sales coordinator in Atlanta where he consistently exceeded goals,
resulting in his promotion to state sales coordinator of
Georgia-North. Throughout his career as an RSC, his region was
recognized four times as the top performing region in terms of new
annualized premium sales. As SSC, Tom was recognized as the
company's top salesperson for three consecutive years, earning the
company's all-time sales record in 2006. Tom currently serves on
the boards of the Georgia Chamber
of Commerce, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Aflac Credit Union.
"In my 24 years as CEO, I have seen some great salesmen and
saleswomen. Tom Giddens is the best
of the best," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan
Amos said. "We will miss Tom's daily leadership, but are
pleased that he will stay on as an advisor and to help Mike Tomlinson acclimate to his new role,
leading this critical function on behalf of our company."
"Tom Giddens always set the bar
high," Aflac U.S. President Teresa
White added. "Through his long tenure at Aflac, Tom mentored
and guided hundreds of successful sales agents. He is a true
leader, respected by his team, his protegees and his industry."
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits
fast. For nearly six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given
policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial
stress. In the United States,
Aflac is the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the
worksite. In Japan, Aflac is the
number one life insurance company in terms of individual policies
in force. Aflac individual and group insurance products help
provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For
eight consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere
magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2014,
FORTUNE magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies
to Work For in America for the 16th consecutive year. Also, in
2014, FORTUNE magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired
Companies for the 13th time, ranking the company number one in the
life and health insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune
500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or
espanol.aflac.com.
Forward-Looking Information
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides
a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective
information, so long as those informational statements are
identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful
cautionary statements identifying important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those included in
the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of
these provisions. This document contains cautionary statements
identifying important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other
statements made by company officials in communications with the
financial community and contained in documents filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Forward-looking statements are not based on historical
information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial
results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking
information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and
uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as
"expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "may,"
"should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," "will," "assumes,"
"potential," "target" or similar words as well as specific
projections of future results, generally qualify as
forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such
forward-looking statements. We caution readers that the following
factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time,
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by the forward-looking statements: difficult
conditions in global capital markets and the economy; governmental
actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets;
defaults and credit downgrades of securities in our investment
portfolio; exposure to significant financial and capital markets
risk; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; significant
changes in investment yield rates; credit and other risks
associated with Aflac's investment in perpetual securities;
differing judgments applied to investment valuations; significant
valuation judgments in determination of amount of impairments taken
on our investments; limited availability of acceptable
yen-denominated investments; concentration of our investments in
any particular single-issuer or sector concentration of business in
Japan; decline in creditworthiness
of other financial institutions; deviations in actual experience
from pricing and reserving assumptions; subsidiaries' ability to
pay dividends to Aflac Incorporated; changes in law or regulation
by governmental authorities; ability to attract and retain
qualified sales associates and employees; decreases in our
financial strength or debt ratings; ability to continue to develop
and implement improvements in information technology systems;
interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other
operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security,
confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such
systems; changes in U.S. and/or Japanese accounting standards;
failure to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and
information security; inability to recognize tax benefits
associated with capital loss carryforwards; level and outcome of
litigation; ability to effectively manage key executive succession;
catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to,
epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis,
acts of terrorism and damage incidental to such events; ongoing
changes in our industry; events that damage our reputation; and
failure of internal controls or corporate governance policies and
procedures.
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus and American Family Life
Assurance Company of New York.
Media contacts – Jon Sullivan,
706.763.4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Analyst and investor contact – Robin Y.
Wilkey, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667, FAX: 706.324.6330, or
rwilkey@aflac.com.
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SOURCE Aflac