John O. Gilbert New CEO for Aid Association for Lutherans

GILBERT NAMED AAL CEO

John O. Gilbert, 54, becomes president and chief executive
officer (CEO) of Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal
benefits society based in Appleton, Wis., on Jan. 1.  He is
currently president and chief operating officer (COO) for AAL.
Gilbert succeeds Richard L. Gunderson, 63, who is retiring as CEO
on Dec. 31.  While Gunderson leaves the day-to-day operations of
the company, he was re-elected chairman of the AAL board of
directors for 1997.  He will continue to play a key role in the
leadership transition process and to work on special assignments
involving strategic planning and policy issues.  "John Gilbert is
a person of great integrity, with more than 30 years of
experience at AAL," said Gunderson.  Gilbert joined AAL's home
office staff in 1965 working in the insurance products and
financial planning areas.  He climbed the ranks to become
president Dec. 1, 1995.

For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG; Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir.,
(312) 380-2956 or MRAMIREZ@ELCA.ORG