Thomas Rowley will retire as president and chief executive officer of CNA National Warranty Corporation at the end of December 2002. He also announced the concurrent promotion of his successors: Joan Saunders, who will move from executive vice president to president/CEO; and Joe Becker, currently senior vice president of sales, who will assume the title of chief operating officer.

Saunders, a graduate of Arizona State University, has over 15 years of industry experience. She began her automotive career in 1987 with CNA National (then Western National Warranty Corporation) and has served as executive vice president since 1996.

Becker is an industry veteran who held a wide range of positions before joining the company in 1994. He has led the sales department for more than two years.

As Rowley explains, “Two years ago, I was appointed to this position by CNA to build a better bridge between our operation in Scottsdale and our parent company in Chicago. Today I can say with full confidence that my mission is complete. I am certain the transition will be seamless and I’m thrilled to leave CNA National in such competent hands."

“The people who have been running this company so superbly on a daily basis—Joan, Joe and the entire senior management team—will continue to lead this company to even greater success in the years ahead. I can’t imagine a better scenario for closing out my career at CNA,” he states.

“Tom has been a tremendous asset to CNA National and we are indebted to him for all that he has accomplished,” says Saunders. “Although we will miss him, we understand how much he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.” Rowley and his wife Laurie, both avid skiers, plan to relocate to Colorado, where one of their married children resides.

CNA National provides service contracts to new-car franchised dealers, including its Dealer Equity profit participation and Dealer Equity Re reinsurance programs for high-volume dealers.

CNA has been in business since 1897 and says it is one of the top 10 insurers in North America. The company is based in Chicago.

0 Comments