April 22, 2010// Cincinnati, Ohio//JoAnn M. Martin, president and chief executive office of UNIFI Companies, announces the following officer elections.

Erik Simmons, FLMI, CNE, was elected vice president – individual new business and underwriting for Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., Acacia Life Insurance Company and The Union Central Life Insurance Company, effective February 22. Simmons is responsible for new business processing of life insurance, annuities and disability insurance, as well as the underwriting workflow for life and disability insurance. 

In August 2008, Simmons joined First Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York as regional vice president of operations. He rejoined the UNIFI companies in February 2010. He has held various vice president-level positions for multiple insurance companies with responsibilities in information technology, new business and underwriting, policyowner services, licensing and commissions, and corporate services.

He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va., where he earned his B.A. degree in philosophy.

Richard Wiedenbeck was elected vice president – information technology for Ameritas Life and Union Central Life, effective January 11. In his current position, Richard leads the information technology unit that focuses on the Individual Division and its operational capabilities to sell, service and grow the life, annuity and disability income business for UNIFI. He is responsible for all aspects of technology and its application toward supporting, enabling and ultimately transforming the business for the Individual Division. This includes applications, data, tools and enabling technologies.

Richard joined the company in January 2010. He spent the last 15 years focusing on the insurance industry, where he consulted and worked projects in every business area of insurance. During that time, he served as deputy of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young’s global insurance practice; led the insurance division of two global software companies; and provided strategic consulting to many C-level executives in IT strategy, business transformation and operational management. Richard’s experience includes many diverse industries, such as defense, manufacturing, life sciences, transportation, as well as all types of insurance (property & casualty, reinsurance, life & annuity, and health).

He earned an associate’s degree in information systems from the University of Maryland, University College, Md.; his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Alameda University, Alameda, California; and his master’s degree in project management from Stratford University, Falls Church, Va.

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UNIFI Companies—Ameritas Life, Acacia Life, Union Central Life and affiliated companies—offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability insurance; group dental, eye care and hearing insurance; retirement plans; investments; banking and public finance. To learn more, visit the UNIFI Companies Web site at http://www.unificompanies.com/.