Cincinnati Financial Corporation announced that the board of directors elected Dirk J. Debbink as the new lead independent director and chair of the nominating committee and added him to the executive committee, following the death of former lead independent director William Bahl. At the same time, the board reduced its size to 12 members. Debbink has served on the Cincinnati Financial board since 2012, most recently as a member of the audit and nominating committees.

Debbink is currently chairman and chief executive officer of MSI General Corporation, a privately owned design/build construction firm he's been employed with since 1983. Debbink has served as a leader of organizations ranging from small firms typical of the company's commercial policyholders to extremely large organizations, including Reserve Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander, Navy Reserve Force. While on active duty with the U.S. Navy, he served as a senior member of the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon.

He has extensive experience in strategic planning and execution, sales, marketing, information technology for a worldwide dispersed workforce, human resources, including pension and profit-sharing plans, and government relationships at the federal level.