Kamilah Williams-Kemp, currently vice president of risk products, will be promoted to executive vice president and chief insurance officer, reporting to CEO John Schlifske and will join the company’s senior leadership team, effective July 1, the company announced in a press release Wednesday. Williams-Kemp will succeed John Grogan, who will retire after 31 years in the company.
In her new role, Williams-Kemp will be responsible for the strategy and performance of the company’s risk products and market development, underwriting, client advocacy and claims.
“Kamilah is uniquely qualified to lead the insurance organization as she brings significant experience and depth of knowledge after serving in multiple insurance and annuity product lines and underwriting leadership roles,” Schlifske said in a statement. “Her promotion represents a deep bench of talented leaders at Northwestern Mutual, underscoring our coemmitment to developing talent who play a critical role to our company’s success.”
Williams-Kemp joined Northwestern Mutual in 1999 and has held numerous leadership roles across the company, including human resources, new business, underwriting operations and career distribution. Most recently, she led risk products where she navigated the introduction of multiple new risk products and product enhancements that drive the company’s competitiveness in the marketplace. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and an M.B.A from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a member of the global Executive Leadership Council, and serves on the boards for Rogers Behavioral Health System, the African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee (AALAM), and Rocketship Public Schools in Milwaukee.
