Management
Cindy Launer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2025. Prior to her current role, Ms. Launer served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since November 2019.
Ms. Launer was employed by American International Group from 2007 to 2018, where she served in various roles including financial planning and analysis, capital projects, financial communications, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and finally Chief Operating Officer of the AIG commercial insurance business. Prior to joining AIG, she held progressive audit, finance, investor relations, and Chief of Staff roles at MetLife and Deloitte & Touche LLP. Ms. Launer graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from International College.
Matthew Maki was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on March 1, 2025. Mr. Maki joined the company as Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis in August 2020. Before joining the company, Mr. Maki was Vice President of Accounting and Treasurer of RAM Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to that, Mr. Maki served in various other finance-related roles at RAM Mutual Insurance and Travelers Companies, Inc. He began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young. Mr. Maki graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Kelly Dawson joined the Company in July 2025 as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. In this role, Ms. Dawson leads all aspects of the Company’s human resources strategy, including talent acquisition, employee engagement and organizational development. Ms. Dawson has more than 20 years of human resources leadership experience, including previous roles as Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Border States and Vice President of Human Resources at Noridian Healthcare Solutions. She holds a Master of Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University, and an undergraduate degree from Stetson University.
Doug Duncan joined the Company in May 2025 as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. In this role, Mr. Duncan leads the Company’s technology strategy and oversees modernization initiatives to support business growth. Mr. Duncan has more than 25 years of technology leadership experience, including previous roles as Chief Information Officer at Columbia Insurance Group and Senior Vice President at Swiss Re. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
Kevin Elfstrand was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer on June 1, 2025. In this role, Mr. Elfstrand oversees the Accounting department and leads external financial reporting. Mr. Elfstrand brings over 20 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, including 17 years at Travelers Companies, Inc., where he most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Corporate Audit. He began his career at Deloitte and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint John’s University in Minnesota.
Jay Larsen joined the Company in November 2025 as Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution. In this role, Mr. Larsen is responsible for driving overall distribution strategy, profitable growth, and disciplined sales execution. Mr. Larsen oversees all distribution sales channels and agency relationships to expand market presence and deliver sustained business results. He brings extensive multiline commercial, farm, and personal lines underwriting, sales & distribution leadership experience that spans captive, direct, and independent agency distribution channels. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Sacramento State University California, and he carries his Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Loss Control Management designations.
Brandon Nicol was promoted to Senior Vice President of Reinsurance and Chief Underwriting Officer on June 1, 2025. In this role, Mr. Nicol leads the Company’s underwriting strategy and reinsurance. He has 19 years of experience across the insurance and reinsurance industries, including roles at AmericanAg, XL Catlin, COUNTRY Financial, and State Farm. Mr. Nicol holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Reinsurance (Are), and Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) designations and serves as a Major in the U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserves. He holds a bachelor’s degree in insurance from Illinois State University.
Chris Oen was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer on June 1, 2025. In this role, Mr. Oen leads the Claims department, drawing on his 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. He joined NI Holdings in 2007 and has held progressively senior roles during his time with the Company. Mr. Oen serves on several industry boards, including as Chairperson of the North Dakota Auto Assigned Claims Plan, and is a veteran of the Army National Guard. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and holds the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation.
Dominic Weber was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary on June 1, 2025. In this role, Mr. Weber leads the Actuarial department and oversees reserving, ratemaking, and predictive analytics initiatives. He has more than 42 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and previously served as Vice President and Chief Actuary at Society Insurance. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Board of Directors
Mr. Aasmundstad has served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of NI Holdings, Inc. since its creation in March 2017.
Mr. Aasmundstad currently serves as Chairperson of the Nodak Mutual Group, Inc. Board of Directors, as well as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Nodak Insurance Company, American West Insurance Company, and Battle Creek Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to the conversion of the mutual insurance company to a stock company and the creation of the mutual holding company, Mr. Aasmundstad served on the Board of Directors of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company from 1997 to 2017, and held the position of President of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company from 2008 to 2017.
Mr. Aasmundstad farms approximately 4,000 acres and, until 2012, operated a custom harvesting business. He has also owned a metalworking business since 2010. Mr. Aasmundstad served as president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau from 1999 through 2011. During his tenure as president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, he served on the Board of Directors of American Agricultural Insurance Company, Inc., which provides reinsurance to Farm Bureau insurance companies and other independent insurers. Mr. Aasmundstad graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in engineering.
Mr. Devlin has served as Vice Chairperson on the Board of Directors of NI Holdings, Inc. since 2017. He is also Chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee.
Mr. Devlin currently serves as Vice Chairperson of Nodak Mutual Group, Inc. Mr. Devlin serves on the Board of Directors of Nodak Insurance Company, American West Insurance Company, and Battle Creek Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to the conversion of the mutual insurance company to a stock company and the creation of the mutual holding company, Mr. Devlin served on the Board of Directors of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company from 2003 to 2017, and held the position of Vice President from 2008 to 2017.
Devlin served as a state legislator in the North Dakota House of Representatives for 22 years, including a term as Speaker. Mr. Devlin has been in public service for 35 years, with 13 years as Steele County Commissioner and 22 years as a North Dakota state legislator. Mr. Devlin was the chief executive officer of three family-owned newspaper corporations in North Dakota and Minnesota for over thirty years. He served as state president of the North Dakota Newspaper Association and the Society of Professional Journalists, and was a board member of the North Dakota Newspaper Foundation.
Mr. Espegard has served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since its creation in March 2017. He is also Chair of the Executive Committee.
Mr. Espegard currently serves on the Nodak Mutual Group, Inc. Board of Directors. Mr. Espegard serves on the Board of Directors of Nodak Insurance Company, American West Insurance Company, and Battle Creek Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to the conversion of the mutual insurance company to a stock company and the creation of the mutual holding company, Mr. Espegard served on the Board of Directors of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company from 2003 to 2017. Mr. Espegard previously served as Chair of the Investment Committee from 2003 to 2012, and Chair of the Audit Committee from 2012 to 2017.
Mr. Espegard has acted as a consultant to financial institutions since his retirement in 2001. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Espegard served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bremer Bank for over 25 years and has nearly 50 years of experience in the banking industry. Mr. Espegard holds a business associates degree from Aakers Business College in Grand Forks, North Dakota and attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.
Cindy Launer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2025. Prior to her current role, Ms. Launer served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since November 2019.
Ms. Launer was employed by American International Group from 2007 to 2018, where she served in various roles including financial planning and analysis, capital projects, financial communications, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and finally Chief Operating Officer of the AIG commercial insurance business. Prior to joining AIG, she held progressive audit, finance, investor relations, and Chief of Staff roles at MetLife and Deloitte & Touche LLP. Ms. Launer graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from International College.
Mr. Mathew has served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since his appointment in February, 2023.
Mr. Mathew served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at North Dakota State University (NDSU) from 2006 to 2014 and retired after 38 years of service in student affairs at NDSU as well as at Mankato State University. He currently serves as Vice President Emeritus for Student Affairs. Upon his retirement in 2014, he served as the Interim Director of Athletics at NDSU.
Mr. Mathew served on the Board of Directors for Thrivent Financial, Northland Region, from 2014 to 2023. He served on the Board of Directors of the Fargo Public Library from 2000 to 2007, including President from 2006 to 2007. He is currently serving in the Cass County Jail chaplaincy program and the Renaissance Zone Authority for the city of Fargo. Mr. Mathew graduated from the University of Allahabad, India with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and rural sociology, and earned a Master of Science degree in education from North Dakota State University.
Mr. Missling has served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since its creation in 2017.
Mr. Missling has served as the Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Farm Bureau since 2005. He grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm and has worked with farmers and ranchers his entire life, having been employed by agriculture-related entities such as Rhone Poulenc Ag Company, Cargill, the University of Minnesota Extension Service, and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. Missling holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from South Dakota State University and a master’s degree in international management from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Stende has served as a director of NI Holdings, Inc. since his appointment in March 2025.
Mr. Stende served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Eide Bailly from 2013 until his retirement in April 2022. From 2006 to 2013, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Eide Bailly. Prior to serving as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Stende was employed by Eide Bailly in various roles, including Audit Partner, from 1982 to 2006. Mr. Stende graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Accounting, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Committee Composition
| Director Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Investment Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric K. Aasmundstad | Member of the Audit Committee | Chairperson of the Compensation Committee | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |
| William R. Devlin | Member of the Compensation Committee | Member of the Investment Committee | Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |
| Duaine C. Espegard | Member of the Audit Committee | Chairperson of the Investment Committee | ||
| Prakash C. Mathew | Member of the Audit Committee | Member of the Investment Committee | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |
| Dave Stende Financial Expert | Chairperson of the Audit Committee | Member of the Compensation Committee |