RLI Corp. CFO Todd Bryant to retire after 30-year tenure

PEORIA, Ill. - RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) announced Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Todd Bryant will retire from his position on December 31, 2025, after more than three decades with the specialty insurer. The company, currently valued at $5.8 billion, has seen its shares decline 24% year-to-date despite maintaining solid financial health with an overall "GOOD" rating according to InvestingPro data.

Bryant, who joined RLI in 1993 and has served as CFO since 2019, will be succeeded by Aaron Diefenthaler, the company's current Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer, effective January 1, 2026.

According to the company's statement, Bryant will remain in an advisory capacity through mid-2026 to facilitate the transition of responsibilities.

"His insight, integrity and steady leadership have left a lasting impact on RLI's culture and success," said RLI President and CEO Craig Kliethermes regarding Bryant's contributions.

Diefenthaler, who joined RLI in 2012, previously held leadership positions at Asset Allocation and Management LLC, SS&C Technologies and Northern Trust. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana University, an MBA from DePaul University, and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Prior to becoming CFO, Bryant served in several leadership roles within RLI's Accounting and Finance departments, including Vice President, Finance & Controller.

RLI Corp. is a specialty insurer that serves niche property, casualty and surety markets through its insurance subsidiaries: RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company, and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company.

The announcement was made in a press release issued by the company.

In other recent news, RLI Corp. reported its third-quarter 2025 earnings, exceeding analyst expectations with earnings per share of $0.83, surpassing the forecasted $0.66. However, the company's revenue was slightly below projections, reaching $510.22 million compared to the anticipated $519.22 million. Additionally, RLI Corp. declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share, amounting to approximately $184 million, alongside its regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. Both dividends are scheduled for payment on December 19, 2025. In other developments, RLI Transportation, a division of RLI Insurance Company, announced a partnership with Netradyne to offer AI-powered video telematics technology to enhance fleet safety. The company's leadership also saw a change with Cathy Martin being promoted to Vice President of E&S Excess Liability. Martin will co-lead the RLI E&S Casualty Brokerage Group with Chris Hughs. These updates highlight RLI Corp.'s ongoing strategic initiatives and leadership changes.

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