Protective Life CEO and Leadership

Rich Bielen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Protective Life Corporation. He formerly held the roles of Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer at Protective Life Corporation, Mr. Bielen has more than 30 years in the financial services industry. Mr. Bielen holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. He serves on the Boards of The United Way of Central Alabama, The Alabama Trust Fund and Children’s of Alabama.

Mike Temple is a Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer at PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP and is based in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Vanderbilt University between 1981 and 1985.

Matthew Kohler is a CTO at PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP and is based in Birmingham, Alabama Area. He attended Florida State University College of Business between 1987 and 1992 and University of Alabama at Birmingham between 1995 and 1997.

Experienced leader driving results through the implementation of innovative business capabilities and enabling technology

Paul Wells is the Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller for Protective Life Corporation. Mr. Wells joined the company in 2004 as Assistant Vice President, Manager of SEC Reporting and became the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Life and Annuity Division in 2007. He also served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Life and Annuity Division from 2014 to March of 2017, when he was named the Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller.

Before joining Protective, Mr. Wells worked for BBVA Compass Bank as well as PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and currently serves on the board of The Bell Center as well as the Accounting Advisory Board for Samford University’s Brock School of Business. Mr. Wells earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Samford University and received a Master in Accountancy from the University of Alabama.

Wendy Evesque is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Protective Life Corporation. Her role is to oversee the company’s human resources activities, including leadership development, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, and learning and talent development. Ms. Evesque joined Protective in March 2005.

Prior to joining Protective Life, Ms. Evesque served as Vice President and Human Capital Partner with United Health Group, providing HR support to health plans across the southern region of the country.

She currently serves on The University of Alabama International Business Advisory Board and is the Board Chair for The Heart Gallery of Alabama. Ms. Evesque is an alumna of the 2011 Momentum Women’s Leadership Program and the 2014 Leadership Birmingham class.

Ms. Evesque earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Rich Bielen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Protective Life Corporation. He formerly held the roles of Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer at Protective Life Corporation, Mr. Bielen has more than 30 years in the financial services industry. Mr. Bielen holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. He serves on the Boards of The United Way of Central Alabama, The Alabama Trust Fund and Children’s of Alabama.

Mike Temple is a Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer at PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP and is based in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Vanderbilt University between 1981 and 1985.