United Methodist Insurance Announces Board/Staffing Changes

Nashville, TN – The United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) Board of Directors has elected Jeff Koch as President and CEO. Mr. Koch assumes the responsibility immediately. Mike Plesko, who has served as interim President and CEO for the past two years has retired. The Board has also elected Robert Mallett as Chairman of UMI’s six-member Board of Directors.

Robert Mallett, a lawyer and local church leader in Washington, D.C., is the President and CEO of Africare, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering social and economic development in Africa. He has served on several nonprofit boards, including six years on the board of Nashville’s Fisk University. Mr. Mallett has been an executive at Pfizer, Inc., and United Healthcare, and has served as Acting Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Clinton Administration. Mr. Mallett said, “I am delighted to serve the denomination in this capacity, and I look forward to working with Jeff Koch, a solid insurance professional.” Mr. Mallett is a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard Law School. Mallett noted that “there are few more important needs for local churches than making sure they can get their property insured at competitive rates. UMI meets this need and provides them with first class service.” Mr. Mallett is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Koch has over three decades of experience in the insurance industry. He has specialized in multi-line programs for large groups of insureds and alternative risk management programs such as captive insurance companies. Mr. Koch said, “I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the United Methodist Church. A number of changes have already been made that will help us to fulfill our disciplinary responsibility to make insurance programs available to churches in the United States. The Board and I look forward to working with our service partners to help protect the lives and property of those we serve.” Mr. Koch holds an Industrial Engineering Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Koch is a member of Brentwood United Methodist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee.

UMI has entered into an agreement with AmVenture Insurance Agency, Inc. (AmVenture), to oversee the administration of the UMI program. AmVenture strives to deliver insurance know-how and an improved customer service experience for ministries protected through UMI. AmVenture offers direct access to a wide range of top tier insurance carriers and a full suite of coverage solutions.

With these changes, UMI is positioning itself for growth as a result of enhanced customer service and the availability of robust coverage to help protect the people and ministries of The United Methodist Church.

For information or to request a quote, visit www.uminsure.org, call 484-654-3380, by email at UMI@sovinsurance.com.

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UMI is a non-profit captive insurance company that fulfills its ministry by protecting the assets of the denomination through comprehensive property and liability insurance to ensure access to future generations of United Methodists.

UMI’s mission is to protect the people and property of The United Methodist Church.

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