Trustmark Mutual Holding Company, a national employee benefits provider, announced today the appointment of Erik Braun, Senior Vice President, as its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Slawin. Braun will succeed Phil Goss, Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, who is retiring after 18 years with Trustmark. Goss will remain with Trustmark through the end of 2026 to support the transition.
Braun brings more than 20 years of finance experience with deep specialization in the insurance and financial services sector. He joins Trustmark after nine years with Kuvare Holdings, an international financial services platform with nearly $50 billion in assets supporting life insurance, annuities, reinsurance, advisory, and asset management solutions.
“Erik’s broad and versatile experience, his leadership skills, and his experience driving significant expansion through mergers and acquisitions and organic strategies will be integral to supporting Trustmark’s growth trajectory,” Slawin said. “It is also clear his approach and values align with our caring culture and mutual-company structure.”
Goss joined Trustmark in 2008 as Vice President of Finance, was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2010, and advanced to Executive Vice President in 2021. His career in finance has spanned more than four decades.
“Phil has been an essential part of Trustmark’s ongoing success and development,” Slawin stated. “Through his guidance and foresight, our capital and surplus have grown significantly, which played a role in Trustmark receiving an upgraded AM Best rating to A (Excellent) in 2023. Phil consistently focused on investing in Trustmark businesses and improving the experience for our associates. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I sincerely thank Phil for all he has done for Trustmark as CFO.”
As Kuvare Holdings’ second hire, Braun played a key role in establishing and expanding the company’s finance operations. He spent nearly eight years as Corporate Controller before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Additionally, from 2020 to 2024, he also served as CFO of Lincoln Benefit Life, a Kuvare subsidiary.
Braun was instrumental in the acquisition and integration of multiple carriers, helping to grow premiums from $46 million to over $7 billion. He executed liquidity events and capital raises, including the $1 billion sale of a sister business. He has experience consolidating operations, enabling strategic alignment and delivering scalable infrastructure to support growth.
He began his career in public accounting, auditing life, title, and P&C insurance for clients with Blackman Kallick, LLP and Johnson Lambert LLP.
“Trustmark has an incredible history and a strong reputation, and I am honored to join the leadership team to further its important mission of helping people increase their wellbeing through better health and greater financial security,” Braun said. “This is an exciting time for Trustmark, and I am thrilled to be part of this next chapter to drive the company’s continued growth.”
Braun earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He is a former Certified Public Accountant in Illinois. He is the current Chair of the Insurance Member Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.
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