MILWAUKEE, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual's board of trustees today appointed Greg Oberland president of the company effective May 1. The move unites responsibility for sales, marketing and agencies under one function. It is intended to strengthen the company's strategic focus on growing and enhancing its field force and delivering financial security to clients. Oberland, currently executive vice president - products, sales and marketing, will continue reporting to chairman and CEO John Schlifske.

"Greg is a respected leader who has done a phenomenal job bringing our planning and sales processes and product strategies together," said Schlifske. "He also has earlier experience aligning large complex groups in various parts of the organization with company strategy. Now we want to draw from his talent as a corporate leader to build on that and make the connections among agencies, sales and marketing even tighter."

Joining the company in 1982 as an attorney, Oberland moved to the business side five years later. He has had increasing executive level responsibility for a variety of product line and operational areas including Disability Income Insurance, Life Underwriting, Policyowner Services and Information Systems.  

Oberland received a bachelor's degree with honors in 1979 from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree with honors in 1982 from Georgetown University.  He also completed an executive development program at the Kellogg School at Northwestern University in 1997.

In the community, Oberland is on the boards of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.  He and his wife Rhonda have four adult children.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With more than $217 billion in assets, $26 billion in revenues and more than $1.5 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.2 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual