John-Paul Besong
About John‑Paul Besong
Independent director of United Fire Group, Inc. (UFCS) since 2013; age 71. Former Senior Vice President of e‑Business and Chief Information Officer at Rockwell Collins (2003–2015), bringing deep technology and operations expertise relevant to insurance. Currently a director of QCR Holdings, Inc. and active on multiple civic and industry boards, with the Board noting his strong understanding of technological advances critical to UFCS’s business .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Collins (Fortune 500) | Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer | 2003–2015 | Technology leadership; “very strong understanding of technological advances critical to the insurance industry” |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| QCR Holdings, Inc. (multi-bank holding company) | Director | 2015 | Public company directorship |
| Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI) | Board member | N/D | Community/industry board |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Board member | N/D | Community board |
| Mercy Medical Center | Board member | N/D | Community board |
| Iowa Public Television Foundation | Board member | N/D | Community board |
| Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) CIO Advisory Board | Member; former Chair of executive board | N/D | Industry advisory role |
Board Governance
- Independence: UFCS Board determined 10 of 11 directors are independent; CEO is the only non‑independent. Besong is part of the independent majority .
- Committees: Member — Audit Committee and Risk Management Committee .
- Chair roles: None indicated for Besong .
- Attendance: Board met 4 times in 2024; all directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors met in executive session after each Board meeting (4 sessions in 2024) .
- Retirement policy: Mandatory resignation submission by first day of February after reaching age 72; effective no later than the next annual meeting .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Directors prohibited from hedging and from pledging UFCS securities; policy revised Aug 18, 2023 .
- Related‑party transactions: None since beginning of 2024; none proposed currently .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Base annual retainer | $80,000 | All non‑employee directors |
| Audit Committee member fee | $5,000 | Additional annual retainer |
| Risk Management Committee member fee | $4,000 | Additional annual retainer |
| Total cash fees earned (2024) | $89,000 | Besong’s actual 2024 cash fees (80,000 + 5,000 + 4,000) |
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Units/Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant | May 2024 | 3,219 RSUs; grant‑date fair value $75,000 (program) | Vests one year after grant date (May 15, 2025) | Board approved RSUs to each then‑serving non‑employee director |
| Stock awards recognized (2024) | 2024 | $73,837 | As scheduled | Besong’s 2024 stock award value per proxy |
No director performance metrics (e.g., ROE, TSR) are used for non‑employee director pay; RSUs are time‑based and aimed at alignment and retention .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|
| QCR Holdings, Inc. | Director | No UFCS related‑party transactions reported; directors prohibited from hedging/pledging; no disclosed conflicts |
- Network context: Other UFCS directors (Noyce and Milligan) serve as directors of West Bancorporation, Inc. (not Besong), indicating broader financial services network on the Board .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology & Systems, Business Operations, Corporate Governance, Senior Administration — identified skills in Board’s matrix for Besong .
- Board credits his “strong technical, business and management background” and CIO experience at a Fortune 500, relevant to insurance technology modernization .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John‑Paul E. Besong | 23,807 | * | “*” denotes less than 1%; none pledged; beneficial ownership per record date |
- Director ownership guidelines: Minimum 100 shares at join; at least 5,000 shares within five years; all current directors comply .
Insider Trades
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Price | Post‑Transaction Beneficial Ownership | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025‑09‑18 | Open‑market sale | 1,150 | $32.25 | 25,793.6192 | |
| 2025‑09‑18 | Open‑market sale | 1,300 | $32.26 | 24,493.6192 |
Additional references: summaries confirming the two sales and attorney‑in‑fact signature by Sarah Madsen .
Governance Assessment
-
Alignment positives:
- Independent director with relevant technology oversight experience; sits on Audit and Risk Management Committees, aligning with cyber/operational risk oversight priorities discussed by the Board .
- Strong attendance and engagement standards; regular executive sessions enhance independence from management .
- Ownership aligned with director guidelines; no pledging allowed; anti‑hedging/pledging and clawback policies strengthen governance .
- Transparent director fee schedule; cash/equity mix favors alignment via annual RSUs with one‑year vesting .
-
Potential watch items:
- Age‑based retirement approaching (age 71 vs. resignation requirement at 72), which could lead to near‑term Board turnover; monitor succession planning in committees where he serves (Audit, Risk) .
- Insider sales in September 2025 were modest; monitor for patterns or pledging (none permitted) and continued compliance with policies .
-
RED FLAGS currently not observed:
- No related‑party transactions; directors cannot hedge/pledge; no attendance shortfalls reported; director compensation appears standard with no unusual guarantees or option repricing .
Overall, Besong’s technology and risk oversight profile supports Board effectiveness in areas material to UFCS (cyber, ERM). The primary governance consideration is planned succession due to the age‑based retirement policy and continuity in Audit/Risk committee expertise .