Insurance
10 CHROs in Insurance
These ten executives hold or have held the chief human resources officer or chief people officer title at insurance companies. A reader can learn from them how insurers organize HR, total rewards and talent programs and how HR leaders support business and technology change.
Professionals to explore
01—10Claudette Byers
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Manulife
Chief Human Resources Officer at Manulife since September 2021; the profile describes Manulife as a financial services group providing financial advice and insurance. She was Executive Officer and Head of Human Resources at AXA (2020–2021), Director, Statutory Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Japan at MetLife Japan (2012–2019) and Member of The Board, Chief Operating Officer, Japan at The Hartford (2008–2012).
Cyndi Bennett, CCP, SPHR
LinkedInExperience: EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer · Selective Insurance
EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer at Selective Insurance since November 2020. At Selective she also held VP, Compensation, Benefits, and HRIS (2013–2020), VP, Compensation & Benefits (2012–2013), VP, Compensation (2009–2012) and AVP, Compensation (2006–2009). Her profile cites more than 30 years of HR experience in insurance.
Denise Lowsley
LinkedInExperience: EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer · The Hanover Insurance Group
EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer at The Hanover Insurance Group since October 2019; the profile describes The Hanover as a provider of auto, home and business insurance. She was Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Navigators, a Brand of The Hartford (2009–2019), International Vice President at New York Life (2007–2009) and International Human Resource Manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance (2003–2007).
Erin Buddie, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Amerisure Insurance
Chief Human Resources Officer at Amerisure Insurance since November 2023, where she leads the strategic human resources function. At Amerisure she was also Vice President Human Resources (2020–2023), Assistant Vice President, Human Resources (2018–2020), Director, Human Resources Operations (2016–2018) and Manager, Human Resources Consulting & Recruiting (2015–2016).
Jane Storm
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Aviva
Chief People Officer at Aviva since October 2025; her headline describes Aviva Plc as insurance, wealth and retirement. She was Chief People Officer at Direct Line Group (January–September 2025), Group People Director at easyJet (2023–2024) and Group Chief People Officer at Saga plc. (2019–2023). Her profile says she has worked with executive teams and plc boards across sectors including insurance, travel and retail.
Jennifer Palmieri
LinkedInExperience: EVP, Chief People Officer · Westfield Insurance
Former EVP, Chief People Officer at Westfield Insurance (2020–2026); since June 2026 she has been Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Transamerica. She also held Senior Vice President & Human Resources Officer roles at The Cigna Group (2004–2020). Her profile cites 25+ years advising CEOs and boards and leading enterprise people strategy, governance and large-scale transformation in highly regulated organizations.
Jenny Chan
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Mercury Insurance
Chief Human Resources Officer at Mercury Insurance since January 2026, where her profile describes aligning talent and business strategy to enable growth and strengthen leadership capability at an insurer with over $8.3B in assets. She was Chief People Officer at Arctera (2024–2025) and held Managing Director roles at Accenture, including Chief Human Resources Officer Managing Director (2016–2022).
Julie Chow
LinkedInExperience: Group Chief Human Resources Officer · FWD Insurance
Group Chief Human Resources Officer at FWD Insurance since March 2023. At FWD she was also Group Chief Total Rewards and HR Operations Officer (2022–2023) and Group Head of Rewards & HR Solutions (2017–2021). She was Regional Head of Performance Management and Reward, APAC at Zurich Insurance (2013–2017) and Reward Technical Partner at RBS (2006–2013).
Karyn Stetz
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · GEICO
Chief Human Resources Officer at GEICO since January 2025; her profile says she drives people strategy and culture amid GEICO's business and technology transformation and partners with the CEO, COO and leadership team to modernize the business and its HR offerings. At Verizon she was SVP, Human Resources - Verizon Business Group (2018–2024), VP, Human Resources - Global Network Technology (2016–2018) and VP, Human Resources - Consumer Business (2012–2016).
Kelly Doran Lafnitzegger
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer · AIG
Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer at AIG since June 2024. Her other listed roles are at GE: Business Separation Leader (2022–2024), HR Leader, GE Gas Power (2019–2022), HR Leader, GE Power (2014–2018) and HR Leader, GE Transportation (2013–2014). Her profile describes her as an HR executive who builds talent programs and collaborative cultures and is known as both a strategic and operational leader.
Choose the right perspective
Match the insurer's line of business and ownership to yours, since a mutual property and casualty carrier, a listed life insurer and a global multiline group face different workforce questions. If your question concerns a specific area such as compensation, total rewards or HR operations, favor someone whose earlier titles name that area.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you reshape HR and the workforce plan when the company invested heavily in technology, data or automation?
- 02How do you attract and keep underwriting, claims and actuarial talent, and what has worked in pay and career paths?
- 03What does the board or compensation committee expect from the CHRO at an insurer, and how do you report on people risk?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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