Leadership succession kicks in

Assurant – a global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases – has announced Martin Jenns, executive vice-president and president of Assurant global automotive, is retiring at the end of the year.

He has spent 15 years with the company and will be succeeded by Jeff Strickland, who is currently senior vice-president of Assurant dealer services and strategic accounts.

Jenns, pictured above, has held an array of leadership roles within Assurant’s global lifestyle segment and led the firm’s acquisition of Protecta Insurance in 2022 as the business sought to expand its global footprint.

Since 2022, he has led the global automotive business and helped expand its client base to include dealers, original equipment manufacturers, third-party administrators, commercial equipment and other affinity partners. 

He has also been instrumental in the development of innovative solutions, such as Assurant Vehicle Care, a suite of automotive protection products, to deliver a more seamless and digital experience for dealers and their customers.  

Keith Demmings, Assurant president and chief executive officer, says: “On behalf of our management committee, clients and employees, I want to thank Martin for his service to Assurant, advancing our values and culture, and for his unwavering leadership of global automotive.

“Martin has been responsible for driving transformational change within our automotive business, organically and through value-creating acquisitions, while continuously delivering exceptional service to our clients and their customers.”

Demmings adds that Strickland, who will lead the global automotive business from the start of 2025, has decades of experience in the industry across sales, marketing and digital enablement. 

“His strategic skills and relationship-building experience position him as the ideal leader for this next phase of growth, bringing dynamic solutions and added value to our clients to expand our business across the world,” says Demmings.

Strickland, pictured below, spent the first 20 years of his career with FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) working in dealer-facing and corporate roles in markets across the US. 

He joined Assurant in 2019 with the mandate to grow and support the company’s key automotive client relationships.