CFD names Hirsig President and CEO

Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) announced Nov. 21, that Wyoming Insurance Commissioner, Tom Hirsig, has accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2015.  The CFD Board of Directors selected Hirsig after a national search following the announcement of Dan Cheney’s departure in August.

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead appointed Hirsig as the Wyoming state insurance commissioner in 2012.  Prior to that, he had a successful career in real estate management and land development, and was one of Wyoming’s top Allstate insurance agents for more than 20 years.

A Wyoming native, Hirsig grew up on his family’s cattle ranch north of Cheyenne.  He attended the University of Wyoming on a rodeo scholarship, where he qualified for the College National Finals three times, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business. A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Hirsig is a three-time Mountain States PRCA Champion Steer Roper. He finished sixth in the world standings in 1987, and was the 1987 Pendleton Round-Up Steer Roping Champion. He won the CFD Steer Roping Championship in 2002.

“We are delighted to have Tom take the reins as our CEO,” Bill Hill, CFD Board Chairman said. “His combination of business experience, deep roots in rodeo and vision of how to help Cheyenne Frontier Days evolve and thrive in the years to come, gives us great confidence that he is the best person to see that our strategic plan for the future is realized.”

CFD General Chairman and interim CEO, Darin Westby, welcomed Hirsig’s appointment. “Tom has been a dedicated volunteer and leader in the CFD family and his experience and energy will continue to move us into the future.  I look forward to working with him.”

Westby will continue in his dual role until Hirsig assumes the CEO position on January 1.

Hirsig has a strong connection to Cheyenne Frontier Days. His great-great uncle was a co-founder of the event. Hirsig has served as CFD’s Contestants Chairman, spent 10 years as Arena Director and was also a member on the organization’s Board of Directors, where he served as Secretary-Treasurer and Vice Chairman.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work together with the Board of Directors, General Committee, staff and the 2,300 volunteers who make Cheyenne Frontier Days the world’s greatest western celebration,” Hirsig said. “Cheyenne Frontier Days represents something very special. We have some exciting ideas for CFD’s future, and I am looking forward to working with everyone on our team to implement that vision.”