Ashworth joins Preferred Mutual as chief HR officer, diversity and inclusion officer

NEW BERLIN, N.Y. — Pauline E. Ashworth has joined Preferred Mutual Insurance Company as executive VP, chief human resources (HR) officer, and diversity and inclusion officer.

In this role, Ashworth is responsible for developing and executing Preferred Mutual’s HR strategy including talent acquisition, development, and retention; succession planning; performance management; and compensation. In addition, she oversees the continued development and implementation of the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy as a driving principle at the business.

“As Preferred Mutual continues to implement strategic initiatives to enhance our position within the marketplace, we will look to Pauline to focus on making diversity a company priority and taking meaningful steps to advance our diversity efforts,” Benedikt Sander, the insurance company’s president and CEO, said in a news release.

Ashworth brings more than 20 years of HR-leadership expertise to the role with experience in building organizational capability in industries including insurance, banking, and consumer products.

Prior to joining Preferred Mutual, Ashworth served as HR director for Harpak-ULMA, an international packaging technology company. She also served as VP of HR – commercial banking for TD Bank, N.A.

Ashworth earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston College and holds several professional designations and certifications in the HR field.

Preferred Mutual provides property and casualty insurance coverage to more than 232,000 individual and business customers through its network of more than 500 independent agents in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.