Tom Henning, chairman and CEO of Assurity Life Insurance Company, has announced the election of two new members to the company’s board of directors: Ryan Downs, president and CEO of Proxibid; and David Graff, CEO of Hudl.
Since joining Proxibid in August 2010, Downs has been responsible for driving the strategy, vision and mission for the company. Proxibid is one of the largest online market places in the world, bringing together 3,000 auctioneers, asset owners and consignors with buyers from 190 countries. Formerly the senior vice president of Worldwide Operations for PayPal, Downs was instrumental in the company’s integration with eBay, expansion to Europe and Asia, and the launch of the merchant business. He also spearheaded efforts to improve the end-to-end user experience for PayPal and eBay customers.
As co-founder and CEO of Hudl, Graff has revolutionized the video editing and analysis landscape for professional, college and youth sports coaches, athletes and organizations. With more than 114,000 active teams and nearly 3.5 million unique users, Hudl has grown to become the preferred game film solution for youth organizations and professional franchises alike.
The appointments represent both a continuation of Assurity’s desire to elect influential leaders, and an increasing focus on fostering a culture of innovation throughout the company. Both former graduates of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Downs and Graff currently serve on the Advisory Board for the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, a specialized honors program at UNL designed to create the next generation of computer science and business management leaders.
Assurity Life Insurance Company (assurity.com) is a mutual organization with a rich 125-year history of “helping people through difficult times.” Headquartered in Lincoln, NE, the company specializes in designing and administrating protection products built for the unique needs of their clients and distributors.