“I’m thrilled to be joining Security Life at a very exciting time for the company,” Zesbaugh said. “I look forward to leading this talented team and collaborating closely with our distribution partners to grow the business in a significant way.”

For Security Life, this move comes at a transformational time in the company’s history. Recently, the Minnetonka-based insurance company announced the addition of product enhancements to its’ dental, vision, life, STD and LTD group products. And on May 16, Security Life will unveil a new brand. 

“We’re delighted that Mark Zesbaugh has joined Security Life,” said Brian Smith, chairman of the board. “He brings a proven track record of great success in this business and has promised to focus on growing our sales and marketing capabilities in order to increase business.”

Zesbaugh is well known in business circles for his tenure at Life USA, later Allianz Life. He joined Life USA as a treasurer and in 1990 he quickly rose to the position of chief financial officer where his leadership was instrumental in helping propel the company from a start-up to the fastest growing insurance operation in the United States. Upon acquisition of Life USA by Allianz in 1999, Mr. Zesbaugh took over the role of chief financial officer for the combined organization, until he was promoted to chief executive officer three years later. While CEO, Zesbaugh oversaw the growth of the company from $3 billion in annual premiums to more than $14 billion. At the same time, operating profits grew from $100 million to more than $600 million and invested assets grew to more than $70 billion. In 2007, he left Allianz and not long after started a Bermuda-based reinsurer with other senior industry executives and has since started his own strategic advisory firm.

Zesbaugh is a trustee at his alma mater, the University of St. Thomas. He also serves as a director for two for-profit organizations and has served on many industry trade boards over the years.

About Security Life Insurance Company of America: Security Life specializes in the ancillary benefits market, providing dental, vision, disability and life insurance products and services to consumers and employer groups in all 50 states (in conjunction with Security Health Insurance Company of America in New York). It uses multiple distribution channels—general agencies, third party administrators, agents, DHMOs, HMOs, insurance companies, product innovators and intermediaries—to distribute product, and specializes in personal insurance and small-to-mid-size employer group business (under 100 lives).

For more information, visit www.securitylifeinsurance.com.

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