Bill Text: IL HR0370 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Paul Hopkins on his retirement as Chairman of the Board of Farmers Group, Inc.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-16 - Resolution Adopted [HR0370 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR0370-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Paul N. Hopkins will retire from his position as
Chairman of the Board of Farmers Group, Inc. on June 30, 2011;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins has made immeasurable contributions
to the growth and success of Farmers by dedicating a career
spanning more than 33 years to the Farmers organization, and
has made equally important contributions to the Zurich
organization since their acquisition of Farmers in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins joined Farmers in 1978 as a Farmers
Agent in his home state of Illinois, and subsequently became a
Farmers employee, whereupon he quickly assumed various
positions of increasing responsibility in the Sales and
Marketing area, and in those positions he developed a life-long
understanding of the critical importance of enhancing
relationships with customers; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins was subsequently appointed to a number
of important executive positions within the Farmers
organization, including Chief Marketing Officer, Senior Vice
President of Strategic Alliances, and Executive Vice
President, Market Management; in 2004, he was appointed
President of Farmers Group, Inc. and a member of Zurich's Group

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Management Board (GMB); in 2005, Mr. Hopkins was appointed
Chief Executive Officer of Farmers Group, Inc. and a member of
the Zurich Group Executive Committee (GEC); and
WHEREAS, On January 1, 2009, Mr. Hopkins was named Chairman
of the Board of Farmers Group, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer
of the Americas for Zurich, responsible for Farmers Group,
Inc., Zurich Latin America, and the ZFUS shared services
operation; in April 2009, Mr. Hopkins's duties on the Zurich
GMB were expanded to include oversight of the Group's global
growth activities; since 2010, Mr. Hopkins has served as
Zurich's Regional Chairman of the Americas; he has also served
as Chairman of the Board of Zurich Holding Company of America
(ZHCA), Chairman of Zurich American Insurance Company (ZAIC),
and Chairman of the Board of Farmers New World Life Insurance
Company; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins has made innumerable important
contributions to the growth and success of the Farmers
organization; among a long list of accomplishments and
achievements are Mr. Hopkins' leadership in re-establishing
Farmers as an industry leading, multi-line, multi-channel U.S.
insurer marked by the highest rate of business growth compared
to its major competitors, and the accomplishment of two major
Farmers acquisitions, Bristol West Insurance Company and 21st
Century Insurance Company, the successful integration of which

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has strategically positioned Farmers as the leading and most
relevant multi-channel insurer in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his many business accomplishments,
Mr. Hopkins has touched the hearts and minds of many friends,
colleagues, and business associates through his inspiring
conversations and presentations, his tireless dedication, his
unparalleled mentoring skills, and his devotion and affection
for agents and employees at all levels; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hopkins' ability to assemble, inspire, and
lead an executive team is exemplary and his ability to position
and place the right individual in the right job has helped
advance the careers of many individuals across the Farmers and
Zurich enterprise; another area in which Mr. Hopkins led the
way in developing people was the role he played in the
enhancement and growth of the award-winning University of
Farmers campus, which is recognized as one of the leading
corporate universities in the world; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Mr. Paul Hopkins for his innumerable important
contributions to the growth and success of Farmers and Zurich
during his many years of service to those organizations, and
for his inspired leadership, good humor, and unwavering

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dedication and affection for Farmers and Zurich employees; and
we offer sincere good wishes to him, his wife, Kay, and his
family for many more years of contentment, health, prosperity,
and satisfaction in the accomplishments of a distinguished
business career; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Mr. Paul Hopkins as a symbol of our respect and
esteem.