Nationwide Chief Information Officer Michael Keller will be retiring from his post after serving with the insurance and financial services company for 17 years. 

"Given the strategic importance of information technology to Nationwide's success, we have initiated a search that will include both internal and external candidates for Mike's replacement," Nationwide CEO Steve Rasmussen said in a news release. 

Keller will stay in his position until a replacement has been hired, which the company says it expects to do by the second half of this year. 

"Mike's deep knowledge of the industry and his ability to strategically plan for the long-term have helped to move Nationwide forward and to further build our reputation as a customer-focused company," Rasmussen said in the statement.  "He has been an incredible business partner, a mentor to many, and an influencer, not only within our company but in the technology and business communities."

Keller previously served at JPMorgan Chase, formally Bank One, as the company's chief technology officer and also held multiple executive positions with IBM.

Keller is a current member of IBM's Board of Advisors and McKinsey's Global Insurance COO Roundtable. He also served on the Columbus 2020 Board of Directors, where he helped the group leverage research companies, academic institutions and diverse industries to further economic development in Central Ohio.