Kemper Corporation announced that Joseph P. Lacher Jr. will step down as president and chief executive officer after nearly a decade in the role and will conclude his service on Kemper’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Lacher will remain with the company in an advisory capacity through the end of the year to support the transition process.

The board has established a search committee and initiated a comprehensive process to identify the next CEO.

To ensure continuity, the board has appointed C. Thomas Evans Jr., Kemper’s executive vice president, secretary and general counsel, as Interim CEO. Evans brings deep knowledge about Kemper’s business, having joined in 1992 and served in multiple leadership roles. Before joining Kemper, he was in private practice at Winston & Strawn, focusing on corporate and commercial litigation.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Joe for a decade of dedicated leadership at Kemper and his support throughout this transition,” said Gerry Laderman, Chairman of the Board. “We appreciate his guidance through challenging periods, including the extraordinary disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we wish him all the best.”

Laderman continued, “Looking ahead, the board will identify the best CEO to lead Kemper into its next chapter of profitable growth. We are also confident in the team’s ability to execute on our strategic priorities and successfully navigate this period of transition. We believe in the strength of our core businesses and remain committed to delivering long-term value for our shareholders, continuing to build our culture, and deepening our connection to the communities we serve.”

“It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Kemper for the past 10 years,” said Lacher. “I want to thank our employees, customers, investors and the board for their support throughout my tenure. I look forward to seeing what Kemper will achieve in this next phase. I have full confidence in the business, its people, and its potential to deliver sustained, profitable growth.”