Farmers Insurance Taps New CIO

Tom Rogers, Farmers InsuranceFarmers Insurance has named a new CIO just six months after former chief Karyn Williams’ exit.

Tom Rogers joins the California-based insurance fund from a 15-year tenure at Zurich Insurance. He began his new role on December 1.

“Tom has an impressive resume of more than 30-years in the investment and asset management field,” said Scott Lindquist, Farmers’ CFO. “I am certain he will use his wealth of knowledge and experience working with institutional investors to the benefit of Farmers and its customers.”

Rogers inherits a largely outsourced general account fund from his predecessor Williams.

“We are unique among our peers for running a formalized outsourced program, I believe,” Williams told CIO last November. “Farmers’ in-house group—including everybody who touches the work internally—is only 10 people. However, I consider my team to include the best-in-class managers that we work with.”

Williams joined Two Sigma in July to serve as its first head of client solutions. At the hedge fund, she focuses on data- and technology-driven products, and oversees the firm’s advisory business.

Rogers most recently served as CIO for Zurich Insurance’s Switzerland branch. He has also served a variety of positions at a former Belgian investment manager Fortis and Merrill Lynch.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University, and an MBA from New York University.

Related: Farmers Insurance CIO Departs for Two Sigma & The Joy of Outsourcing