ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 26, 2005
Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Chairman John Gilbert To Retire
05-013-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- John O. Gilbert announced Jan. 14 that he
plans to retire as chairman of the board of Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans on July 31, at the end of his membership on the
board. The announcement set a leadership transition plan in
motion that has been in place since Aid Association for Lutherans
(AAL) and Lutheran Brotherhood merged three years earlier to form
Thrivent Financial.
Thrivent Financial is a Minneapolis-based not-for-profit
financial services organization serving the members and
ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
and other Lutheran church bodies.
Bruce J. Nicholson, Thrivent Financial president and CEO,
will assume the additional responsibility of chairman after
Gilbert's retirement. Jon M. Stellmacher, executive vice
president, becomes chief administrative officer, overseeing
financial service operations, information technology and human
resources. Pamela J. Moret, executive vice president, marketing
and products, will assume additional responsibility for
communications.
"This new structure clusters key related functions to ensure
we are working together the very best we can to meet the needs of
our membership," said Nicholson. "I'm very proud of this team's
dedication and leadership and look forward to continuing our work
for the benefit of members."
Gilbert, 62, was raised in Morris, Minn. In 1964 he earned
a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of
Minnesota, Morris, and in 1977 earned a master's in business
administration from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.
In 1965 Gilbert joined the staff of AAL, Appleton, Wis., in
insurance product development. He rose through the ranks,
working in corporate planning, financial operations, information
technology, field services and insurance services.
Gilbert became an AAL executive vice president in 1995,
president and chief operating officer in 1996, and president and
chief executive officer in 1997. In 2000 he added chairman of
the AAL board of directors to his titles as president and CEO.
When AAL merged with Lutheran Brotherhood in 2002, Gilbert
became chairman of Thrivent Financial's board. Nicholson became
president and chief executive officer of Thrivent Financial; he
had been president of Lutheran Brotherhood.
Gilbert chairs the board of regents for Luther College,
Decorah, Iowa, and serves as a trustee of the Luther Seminary
Foundation, St. Paul, Minn. Luther College is one of 28 colleges
and universities of the ELCA; Luther Seminary is one of the
ELCA's eight seminaries. Gilbert is also past chair of the Life
Office Management Association, Atlanta.
"Thrivent Financial is indebted to John Gilbert for his
accomplishments and courage throughout his 40 years with the
organization, and especially during these past three years,"
Nicholson said in a Thrivent Financial news release.
"John was instrumental in making this merger a success. His
unwavering commitment has helped to create a forward-looking
financial services organization equipped to serve Lutherans into
the 21st century. John leaves a legacy of uncompromising
integrity and of always doing the right thing for our members,"
Nicholson said.
"I am leaving Thrivent Financial with the utmost confidence
in the organization's future," Gilbert said in the release. "The
foundational work of our merger is done, and Thrivent Financial
is now positioned to grow as a relevant, responsive, member-
focused organization that provides top-notch solutions to meet
the needs of our members, their families and communities," he
said.
"I look forward to my retirement years as a time to spend
more time with my wife and family," Gilbert said. "I also plan
to stay very active and utilize the talents and experiences given
me in continued service to my church and community -- including
volunteering in my Thrivent Financial chapter," he said.
Gilbert and his wife Marilyn are the parents of two adult
children. They are members of Central Lutheran Church,
Minneapolis, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Eagle River,
Wis.
-- -- --
The home page of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is at
http://www.thrivent.com/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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