HR0370 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0370 LRB097 11984 KXB 55625 r

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 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 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 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.