Horace Mann Names Bret Benham Head of Life & Retir

SPRINGFIELD, IL --(Marketwired - November 27, 2017) - Horace Mann Educators Corporation ( NYSE : HMN ) today named Bret Benham to the position of Executive Vice President, Life and Retirement.

Benham has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries, most recently as Senior Vice President, Retirement at Ameritas. Prior to that, he held executive positions at TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments. He has served on multiple industry boards, including the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Insurance Information Institute and Retirement Income Industry Association.

"I am excited to welcome Bret to the organization," said Horace Mann President & CEO Marita Zuraitis. "His proven track record of delivering profitable growth and driving operational excellence, as well as his innovative approach to products and distribution, is a strong fit with our company and vision."

The appointment will allow Matthew Sharpe to focus on leading the company's Business Development function, guiding strategy for the entire enterprise.

"Under Matt's leadership, we have been able to modernize our Life & Retirement product suite and infrastructure, as well as set strategy that aligns with our customer-centric mission," Zuraitis said. "I'm excited for him to take on this new position, and continue the work that is critical to our long-term success."

About Horace Mann

Horace Mann (Horace Mann Educators Corp. ( NYSE : HMN )) is the largest financial services company focused on providing America's educators and school employees with insurance and retirement solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators ^® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. For more information about the company, visit horacemann.com .