Long-time executive Kelly Atkinson to oversee Distribution operations, while Sarah Smith joins the company to lead its Marketing Services group
CLEARWATER, Fla. – March 21, 2022 – AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions, today announced two key leadership changes to its Distribution and Marketing organizations aimed at accelerating and fortifying its business against the backdrop of record-breaking organic and acquired growth over the last two years.
The leadership changes were announced jointly by Chief Distribution Office Mike Vietri and Chief Marketing Officer Ovi Vitas:
Kelly Atkinson, an 11-year-veteran of AmeriLife, steps into the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Distribution Operations. Reporting to Vietri, Atkinson will work closely with AmeriLife’s Executive Leadership Team to create, implement and rollout plans for operational processes designed to support our continued Distribution growth. She will oversee daily operations across Distribution, managing regular touchpoints and ensuring accountability and regular reporting – including – the development, communication and implementation of effective growth strategies and processes. She will also be responsible for establishing and managing governance systems with clear processes and procedures and consistent affiliate oversight. Lastly, Atkinson will also continue to lead the charge on all Distribution events, incentive and sponsorship programs, while also driving forward key Distribution initiatives.
Prior to this new role, Atkinson served as senior vice president, Brand Management and Creative Services. She started with the company as a project manager within AmeriLife’s marketing communications team and has grown with the company throughout her tenure, delivering on a host of enterprise programs. In the last year alone, Atkinson’s leadership produced a refreshed AmeriLife brand image; the launch of the Marketing Masterminds webinar series; the company’s first-ever Distribution National Kickoff Conference; the launch of the new, modern AmeriLife.com website; and much more.
“Over the last 18 months, the AmeriLife Marketing and Distribution teams have made significant progress in repositioning our brand and building out a broad set of resources and programs to support our affiliates, agents and advisors,” said Vietri. “As a result, the organization is significantly larger and more complex than it was two years ago, and the need for a coordinated focus on our objectives and growth drivers has never been more important. We’re privileged that the individual to fill this critical role came from within AmeriLife, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Kelly to our team.”
“I’m excited for this next chapter of my career with AmeriLife,” added Atkinson. “I’ve had the privilege of growing with AmeriLife, and look forward to allowing that experience to help me continue to support the needs of the company in my new role as we continue to grow and take our Distribution to new heights.”
As Atkinson transitions, Sarah Smith joins AmeriLife as its new Senior Vice President, Brand & Creative Services, with accountability and responsibility for all brand, internal and external communications, creative services, and marketing account management. Smith is charged with leading the organization on delivering exceptional creative output, as well as implementing a centralized intake and project management program for its various marketing service lines and affiliates.
Smith comes to AmeriLife from one of its largest affiliates, Senior Market Advisors (SMA), where she was, most recently, Group Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Planning. Under Smith’s leadership, the SMA marketing team increased efficiencies and effectiveness of marketing campaigns through streamlined workflows and a fresh approach to project management. In her tenure with SMA, she also was instrumental in the creation of engaging training content and programs to better assist accounts in their growth, and most recently launched a new and improved website with portal functionality for agents.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for Kelly’s leadership of our Marketing Services team, and am excited to support her in her new role as she works to transform Distribution operations,” said Vitas. “I’m equally as thrilled to welcome Sarah to the team, whose experience and expertise will undoubtedly build upon our strong foundation and further elevate AmeriLife’s brand and creative output in new and innovative ways on behalf of our enterprise and family of companies.”
“I’m thrilled to take this new step in my career with one of the fastest growing insurance distributors in the country,” added Smith. “Over the past five years with Senior Market Advisors, I was given the opportunity to take risks and grow my skill set in ways I never thought imaginable. At a time when the marketplace is rapidly evolving, I’m eager to bring my experience to AmeriLife to help support the team as we take on new challenges and grow together.”
