United Fire Group, Inc. announced the appointment of Julie Stephenson as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective January 30, 2023. She succeeds the company's longtime COO Michael Wilkins, who retired from UFG at the end of September. Stephenson has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, most recently serving as global head of casualty reinsurance at Swiss Re.

Prior to joining Swiss Re in 2021, she held the positions of chief operating officer-middle market and commercial chief underwriting officer at CNA Insurance and global liability manager for Chubb Insurance. She earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. In her new role, Ms. Stephenson will be responsible for the overall operational performance of UFG, overseeing strategic efforts to drive profitable growth across the company's various business segments.