Kurt Bock, CFA

A retired CEO, Kurt Bock is passionate about helping leaders grow and develop their leadership skills in the property/casualty insurance industry.

As the CEO of COUNTRY Financial from 2012 until 2019, Bock led the organization through a financial, operational, and cultural transformation, elevating the role of technology, enhancing customer satisfaction, and achieving sustained profitability while growing the organization’s focus on leadership, engagement, and accountability. During his tenure at COUNTRY, Bock served as the chairman of the boards of directors of Cotton States Life Insurance Company, Cotton States Mutual Insurance Company, MiddleOak Insurance Company, and all of their subsidiaries.

He has testified before House and Senate committees on topics of regulatory overreach and international capital standards. He was appointed as an industry representative to the Department of Treasury’s Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance between 2016 and 2018.

Prior to joining the financial services industry, Bock’s 28-year career in the Air Force included progressive leadership of squadron and group commands; leadership of an elite Air Force flying unit supporting the vice president, the cabinet, and Congress in worldwide operations; and service as chair of the NATO military working group, responsible for the realignment of NATO’s military strategy and command structure.

Bock earned a doctorate in business administration from Saint Louis University and an MBA from Southern Illinois University. He received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has been a member of the CFA Institute since 2005.