Tim Gerend

Timothy J. Gerend serves as the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Northwestern Mutual. After joining Northwestern Mutual in 2002 as an attorney, Gerend has held a number of leadership roles across the company—including law, compliance, field compensation and campus planning. Most recently as executive vice president and chief distribution officer, Gerend was responsible for the company’s go-to-market strategy, including the company’s exclusive field force of more than 20,000 advisors and team members, and our strategic communications and marketing strategies. Under his leadership, Northwestern Mutual grew the largest, most productive, and most diverse field force in the company’s history. 

Gerend is passionate about supporting opportunities for young people to grow toward their potential and ensuring that our industry is prepared to meet the needs of the future. He has served on many philanthropic and industry boards and currently serves on the boards of the American Council of Life Insurers and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. 

Gerend is a graduate of Butler University with a B.S. in economics and received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame.