New CEO tapped for Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Companies

Will replace retiring CEO Bradley R. Smith

Louisville, Ky. – A transition in leadership is underway at Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Mutual Insurance Companies as its Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Bradley R. Smith, retires from his role in April. His successor, John Sparrow, was officially voted into the CEO position on March 8, 2016, by the KFB Insurance Companies’ Board of Directors.

Smith served as the KFB Insurance EVP and CEO since February 2009. He began his career with KFB in April 1987, hired as the insurance company’s first staff attorney. In 1996, he was named General Counsel for the Companies and then added the role of Chief Operating Officer to his responsibilities in 2003. He relinquished the General Counsel title in 2006 to serve exclusively as COO until his eventual appointment as CEO three years later.

Sparrow now takes the role of EVP and CEO after serving the past three years as COO of KFB Mutual Insurance Companies. His career with KFB began in 1989 when he became an insurance agent in Hardin County. In 1995, he was named Assistant Vice President of Sales and was later promoted to Vice President of Agency Support & Marketing in 2002. Sparrow continued in that role until being appointed COO by the KFB Insurance Companies’ Board of Directors in 2013.

With his new appointment, Sparrow becomes the next CEO of KFB Mutual Insurance Companies. In this role, under the direction of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the company as well as establishing its policies, goals and overall business objectives.

“This change in leadership represents a significant moment in the history of Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Companies,” said Mark Haney, President of KFB. “Brad Smith has been a trusted leader and invaluable contributor to our company’s success throughout his career. Fortunately, we still have much to look forward to in the years ahead. Under John Sparrow’s new leadership, I know we have a seamless transition in place and can anticipate nothing but continued success and growth for our entire organization.”