After a remarkable 21-year career at Nationwide, Mike Mahaffey, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer, Strategy and Innovation Officer, announced he will retire later this year.  

“Mike has been integral in keeping us focused on what matters most—our customers—while shaping the strategies that move our businesses forward,” said Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. “Thanks to his vision and leadership, Nationwide is well positioned to grow and succeed as we head into our next century.” 

Mahaffey began his Nationwide career in 2005. Through the years, he took on a series of increasingly broad leadership roles across risk, strategy, growth, innovation and customer with a common focus on building a stronger Nationwide for the future. 

Throughout his career, Mike brought that same spirit of service to the broader industry and community. He serves as a trustee and past chair of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio, and serves on the OhioHealth Board of Directors. He has helped lead the North American Chief Risk Officer Council and The Ohio State University’s Risk Institute, and he previously served as vice chair of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He has also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University and as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School. 

“Mike’s ability to connect the big picture to the work in front of us has made a lasting difference—for our customers, our associates and our company,” said Walker. “It’s a legacy that will continue to be felt throughout the enterprise.” 

Nationwide has named Roberto Robles leader of Nationwide National Partners, effective Aug. 3, 2026.

In this role, Robles will lead Nationwide’s executive-level relationships with key national property and casualty distribution firms, serving as a connection point between partner leadership, Nationwide business units and the broader enterprise.

“Roberto brings a strong blend of carrier and broker experience, along with a valuable outside-in perspective on distribution and complex risk,” said Russ Johnston, president of Commercial Lines, Excess & Surplus, Specialty. “He is known for building strong partnerships and high-performing teams, and we’re confident his leadership will help strengthen our national partner relationships and support our continued growth.”

Robles joins Nationwide from Willis Towers Watson, where he most recently served as managing director of carrier relationship management. Prior to that, he held senior business development and distribution leadership roles at Sompo and Chubb, where he led national partner relationships, managed large specialty books and helped launch growth initiatives across the business.

With more than two decades of industry experience, Robles brings deep expertise in distribution strategy, partner engagement and complex risk. His appointment reflects Nationwide’s continued focus on strengthening strategic partnerships and making more coordinated, data-informed decisions with key distribution partners.

Robles holds an MBA from Clarkson University School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions has named Barbie Walsh to lead its combined Institutional and Consultant Relationship teams.

In her expanded role, Walsh will oversee both teams and help advance the company’s strategy across government and corporate institutional markets. She will report to Brenda Casey Anderson, associate vice president, Strategic Relationship Management, Retirement Solutions Distribution.

“Barbie has consistently demonstrated the leadership, market insight and relationship focus needed to help us serve clients and consultants at the highest level,” said Brenda Casey Anderson, associate vice president, Strategic Relationship Management, Retirement Solutions Distribution. “She brings deep retirement industry experience and a strong history of leading teams through growth and change. I am confident Barbie will help strengthen how we serve the market, deepen relationships across government and corporate institutional segments, and continue positioning our business for long-term success.”

Walsh previously led Institutional Markets and most recently had been serving as interim leader of the Consultant Relationships team.

She brings 27 years of experience in the retirement plans industry spanning operations, relationship management and leadership. Walsh joined Nationwide five years ago to help serve and grow the company’s institutional client base. In her prior role as Institutional Relationship Director, she led some of Nationwide’s largest institutional and ERISA-qualified client relationships and helped shape the company’s institutional service strategy.

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After more than four decades of leadership and service, Jeff Rommel, senior vice president, Personal Lines Operations, will retire from Nationwide on Jan. 31, 2027.

Rommel joined Allied Insurance, a Nationwide company, in 1985 as a claims representative. During his 41-year tenure with Nationwide, he has held various leadership positions across claims, sales, distribution and operations.

Since assuming the role of senior vice president of Personal Lines Operations in October 2024, Rommel has helped transform the experience Nationwide delivers by advancing service, ease and trust, while helping the organization sharpen its focus on customer outcomes and build capabilities that contributed to industry-leading experiences.

Throughout his career, Rommel’s deep knowledge of the Personal Lines value chain has helped deliver the company’s mission to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care.

“Jeff’s leadership has made a lasting impact on our company and on the people who have worked alongside him,” said Mark Berven, president and COO, Property & Casualty for Nationwide. “Jeff helped lead the business through important moments with a steady hand, a clear focus on our customers and a commitment to building strong teams.”

Beyond his service at Nationwide, Rommel has been an active and dedicated member of his community throughout his career.  He has served in various Board roles and collaborated closely with community partners including the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Food Bank of Iowa, United Way of Central Iowa, ICON Water Trails, Science Center of Iowa, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Greater Iowa and the Vaughan Institute Advisory Board.

The search for a new leader of Personal Lines Operations is underway.

Nationwide’s head of Institutional Life Insurance (ILI), Jessica Dowdy, has announced that Justin Lee will lead the unit’s Product Strategy and Delivery team. In this role, Lee is responsible for ensuring Nationwide’s Institutional Life Insurance business delivers strong results by developing, designing and actively managing solutions, including corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) products.

Lee brings nearly 25 years of experience in the financial services industry to the role. Since joining Nationwide in 2002, he has become known for his ability to turn strategy into action, align stakeholders and deliver results that drive sustainable, profitable growth.

Most recently, Lee served as a senior associate vice president on the Nationwide Financial Finance team, where he was responsible for supporting the ILI team. He successfully oversaw the development of key products and features that improved the partner and customer experience, including clearer experience-based pricing and asset-based fee structures that better aligned to account size. Prior to this role, Lee held several key leadership positions supporting the pricing and product development strategy for ILI’s COLI and BOLI products.  

“Justin is a strong leader who brings a combination of industry expertise, strategic vision and operational excellence to this role,” Dowdy said. “I am confident that with the addition of Justin’s leadership, the ILI team will continue to build on its successes and strong performance across the industry.”  

Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from The Ohio State University. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

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07/2026

Nationwide has selected Nick Andersen as the new leader of Agribusiness Distribution and Underwriting, following Dirk Pollitt’s retirement. Effective July 1, Andersen will lead Nationwide’s farm, ranch and commercial agribusiness sales and underwriting teams and oversee operational work that influences business performance.

Andersen currently serves as Vice President of Agribusiness Claims and Strategic Transformation and brings more than 25 years of insurance experience to his new role.

“Nick brings deep experience across underwriting, product, operations and claims, along with a strong partnership mindset that will serve our agribusiness team well,” said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness. “He is a thoughtful, steady leader who has made meaningful contributions across our organization, and I’m confident he is well suited to help lead Nationwide Agribusiness into the future.”

Andersen also has a strong commitment to community leadership through board service, including Simpson College Board of Trustees and past leadership with the Des Moines Community Playhouse and The American Red Cross of Central Iowa.

Joel Carnes, president of Nationwide pet insurance, has announced that Andee Gravitt will be the company’s new leader of pet insurance sales. Gravitt will report to Carnes, effective June 8. 

“Andee has a proven track record of success delivering profitable, long-term revenue and growth, and leading strategic sales and relationship teams across large B2B companies,” Carnes said. “She understands how to navigate complex client environments with confidence, clarity and collaboration.”

Most recently, Gravitt served as AVP of Institutional Consultant Relations for Nationwide Retirement Solutions (RS), the company’s employer-sponsored retirement plan business, where she led national strategy for consultant engagement. During her nine years with RS, she was responsible for some of the company’s largest plans in the western United States and helped build the company’s Consultant Relationships team. Her leadership strategy strengthened consultant partnerships across the national network, helped retain and win business and expand the sales pipeline.

“Andee is widely recognized as a trusted partner to clients and colleagues alike, known for her calm, solutions-oriented leadership and her ability to align diverse teams around shared goals,” Carnes said. “As we continue to evolve our sales organization, Andee’s experience in driving sustainable growth, deepening client relationships, and strengthening market position will be instrumental in positioning us for rapid growth.”

Gravitt is a proud pet parent of an energetic Red Merle Australian Shepherd, River, who brings constant movement and personality to the household.

About Nationwide pet insurance
With more than 1 million actively insured pets, Nationwide is the first and one of the largest providers of pet insurance in the United States. Nationwide pet insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Policies are sold direct-to-consumer and through workplace voluntary benefits programs. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, visit petinsurance.com.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions announces that Adam Lacks has been appointed associate vice president (AVP) of Product Development for government markets, effective April 27. In this role, he will report to Hutch Schafer and lead product strategy, design and development for the Retirement Solutions business supported on the DCdirect recordkeeping platform.

Lacks will oversee the development of new products, features and capabilities designed to keep Nationwide’s retirement plans business aligned with and ahead of the evolving public sector defined contribution marketplace. He will also work closely with Sales, Operations, Legal, Finance, Marketing and Technology to help deliver solutions, advance key initiatives, and drive consistent execution and adoption.

“Adam brings a strong combination of product expertise, finance acumen and deep experience in our government market. He understands what our partners, plan sponsors and participants need, and he knows how to translate those insights into practical solutions,” said Schafer, vice president of Retirement Solutions product development. “With Adam leading our public sector product strategy, we’re well positioned to continue evolving our offerings, delivering meaningful innovation and helping public sector clients achieve better retirement outcomes.” 

Before stepping into this role, Lacks served as AVP, Retirement Solutions Finance, where he led pricing strategy across retentions, acquisitions, plan enhancements, Stable Value Wrap and Nationwide Trust Company. Prior, he was in Retirement Solutions where he led the Government Solutions Center, where his teams delivered award-winning service¹ and implemented key technology and process improvements.

Lacks holds a Master of Science in Management from The American College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio University, where he was recognized as a Collegiate Distinguished Military Graduate. He also maintains FINRA Series 6 and 26 registrations.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions helps secure financial futures for approximately three million participants in 30,000 retirement plans with $250 billion in assets, across full-service recordkeeping, investment solutions, and pension risk transfer². Nationwide remains No. 1 in public 457 plans (based on the number of plans)³ with an average tenure of 29 years². The company also continues to maintain significant presence in private 401(k), nonprofit 403(b) markets, and pension risk transfer.

For 50 years, Nationwide has remained committed to continually improving its retirement solutions and service experience to better support individuals preparing for and living in retirement. The company offers a diversified portfolio of solutions that complement its traditional recordkeeping and education services. Nationwide’s goal is to help participants prepare for retirement by providing investment solutions and services designed to support long-term growth, risk management and income planning. These offerings include mutual funds, managed accounts, pension risk transfer capabilities, fixed and stable value solutions, and lifetime income options.

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

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¹DALBAR, Inc. recognized Nationwide Retirement Solutions with the 2025 Plan Participant Service Award, its 12th consecutive year receiving the honor.
²Nationwide Financial (Dec. 31, 2025)
³PLANSPONSOR 2025 Recordkeeping Survey

Nationwide Annuity President Kush Kotecha has announced that Stacy LaiFook will lead the unit’s Business Development team, effective April 27. In this role, LaiFook is responsible for ensuring Nationwide’s Annuity business delivers strong top and bottom-line results by developing, designing and actively managing annuity solutions.

LaiFook brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to the role. She is known as a results-driven leader with deep expertise in driving modernization, delivering high-quality results and empowering teams to perform at their best.

Most recently, LaiFook worked for Oliver Wyman as senior principal, where she led the firm’s annuity initiative with a focus on talent and business development. Most notably, she was MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company’s senior vice president of Product and Pricing, where she was responsible for annuity product strategy and execution, as well as performance across the product lifecycle. LaiFook oversaw the design, pricing and implementation of single premium immediate, registered index-linked, fixed indexed and fixed annuity products.

“Stacy is a purposeful leader and innovator who brings a combination of industry expertise, strategic vision and operational excellence to this role,” Kotecha said. “I am confident the Annuity Business Development team will continue to build on its successes and strong performance under her leadership.”  

Before its acquisition by MassMutual in 2021, LaiFook served as vice president at Great American Life Insurance Company, where she played a key role in launching the firm’s Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business. She contributed to the design and development of a PRT strategy, worked closely with sales to drive growth and helped scale the business to $1 billion in liabilities over four years.

LaiFook holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from Tufts University. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the Academy of Actuaries.

Nationwide is a top 10 seller of annuity products in the United States¹. Visit https://www.nationwide.com/personal/investing/annuities/ for more information about how Nationwide annuities can help investors make it easier to prepare for retirement.

¹ LIMRA U.S. Individual Annuities Sales Survey, 2025 Year-End Rankings
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03/2026

Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced that Ed Malone has been promoted to associate vice president, Protected Retirement Sales where he will drive investment-only and Nationwide recordkeeping sales across the company’s suite of protected retirement solutions. Malone reports to Cathy Marasco, Vice President, Protected Retirement. 

Malone, who was elevated from his previous position as director of sales for Protected Retirement, has been solely focused on Protected Retirement product distribution since 2020. 

As associate vice president, Malone will expand investment-only distribution by strengthening strategic partnerships with key recordkeepers and platforms. He will also continue partnering closely with Nationwide’s distribution leaders and field teams to drive plan and participant adoption that supports improved retirement outcomes for the participants in the plans where Nationwide is the recordkeeper.

“Over the last several years, Ed has been dedicated to expanding access to Nationwide’s Protected Retirement solutions and enhancing the company’s focus on helping participants turn their savings into guaranteed retirement income,” said Marasco. “His leadership in championing Nationwide’s Protected Retirement story with key audiences has helped position the company as a recognized leader in delivering in-plan lifetime income and principal protection.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions helps secure financial futures for approximately three million participants in 30,000 retirement plans with $250 billion in assets, across full-service recordkeeping, investment solutions, and pension risk transfer¹. Nationwide remains No. 1 in public 457 plans (based on the number of plans)² with an average tenure of 29 years¹. The company also continues to maintain significant presence  in private 401(k), nonprofit 403(b) markets, and pension risk transfer.

For 50 years, Nationwide has remained committed to continually improving its retirement solutions and service experience to better support individuals preparing for and living in retirement.  The company offers a diversified portfolio of solutions that complement its traditional recordkeeping and education services. Nationwide’s goal is to help participants prepare for retirement by providing investment solutions and services designed to support long-term growth, risk management and income planning. These offerings include mutual funds, managed accounts, pension risk transfer capabilities, fixed and stable value solutions, and lifetime income options.

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

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¹ Nationwide Financial (Dec. 31, 2025)
² PLANSPONSOR 2025 Recordkeeping Survey

Nationwide‘s Investment Management Group (IMG) announced that Tammara Flagler has been named leader of Nationwide Securities, LLC (NSLLC), Nationwide's retail broker dealer and investment advisor, effective December 22. In this role, Flagler will lead the firm’s direct-to-consumer and business partner investment and advice solutions. She will report to Joseph Aniano, leader of Nationwide’s Investment Management Group (IMG).

With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, Flagler will set the strategic direction for NSLLC and lead its execution. Her priorities include delivering exceptional customer experience, ensuring operational excellence and compliance, and shaping a product platform that meets evolving customer needs.

“Tammara’s ability to build high-performing teams and deliver results makes her an excellent choice to lead NSLLC into the future,” said Aniano. “She is admired for her proven ability to manage cross-functional teams in a way that supports individual professional growth, drives business results and exceeds client satisfaction expectations.”

Flagler currently serves as head of securities-backed lending (SBL) sales and distribution at Nationwide, where she has driven record sales and built a world-class team. She began her career at UBS and joined Nationwide in 2016, where she has held leadership roles in operations and staff administration prior to leading the SBL team.

She was named Nationwide’s Sales Associate of the Year for Nationwide Corporate Solutions in 2020. Flagler holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Seton Hall University and maintains FINRA Series 7, 26 and 63 licenses. 

Nationwide Investment Management Group (IMG) is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. IMG provides access to a curated list of investment solutions across asset classes that seek to outperform across market environments using a subadvised model offering access to specialized knowledge and expertise at institutional pricing. IMG holds its managers to the highest performance standards through uncompromising oversight by its nearly 20-person investment research team and provides ongoing market, economic and investment insights to help investors identify opportunities, manage risk and stay informed. 

Learn more about the services Nationwide Investment Management Group provides. 

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Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker announced today that Michael Carrel will serve as the new Chief Technology Officer for the Fortune 100 company. Carrel follows Jim Fowler who is joining Lumen Technologies as Chief Technology and Product Officer beginning in January 2026.

“As we prepare to enter Nationwide’s centennial year, we’re pleased to name Michael Carrel to lead our Technology team,” said Kirt Walker, Nationwide CEO. “Michael brings deep business and technology experience to this role and will be a champion for enterprise adoption of AI and new technologies, delivering on our vision to be the most trusted, most caring, most customer-focused protection company.”

Carrel brings more than 30 years of experience within Nationwide Technology. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Nationwide Financial. In this role, Michael was responsible for all technology solutions supporting Nationwide’s financial services businesses.

Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowling Green State University and has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton. He serves on the Computer Science Advisory Board of Bowling Green State University and is the Board Chair for the United Way of Delaware County. Earlier this year, Michael was named the Ohio ORBIE Awards Large Enterprise CIO of the Year.

Walker added, “We appreciate Jim Fowler’s many contributions during his seven years with Nationwide and wish him continued success in his next chapter.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions has announced that Savannah Bellamy and Sean Czepiel have joined the company’s emerging markets sales team as regional vice presidents. Both report to Christina Gregory, divisional vice president for Nationwide Retirement Solutions’ emerging markets sales in the east region.

Bellamy, whose experience includes a previous seven-year stint at Nationwide, leads sales efforts in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. 

Czepiel, whose prior experience includes time at EZTPA and MassMutual, is focused on distribution in the New York City area and Long Island. 

“The additions of Savannah and Sean further strengthen our retirement wholesaling team in the eastern region,” said Gregory. “Their industry expertise and commitment to helping financial advisors grow their businesses position them perfectly to lead our efforts in these important areas.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect nearly $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457(b) plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service.

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

 

¹ Plan Sponsor 2024 Recordkeeping Survey

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Nationwide’s Strategic Customer Solutions team focuses on accelerating top- and bottom-line results across Nationwide Financial by driving distribution relationships, leveraging technology to make the company more efficient and easier to do business with, and providing extraordinary experiences that advance business outcomes and create a competitive advantage for Nationwide.   

About JJ Pérez 

JJ most recently served as President of Nationwide Corporate Solutions, overseeing a portfolio of solutions, including Nationwide Business Solutions Group (company- and bank-owned life insurance), Pension Risk Transfer, Pet Insurance and Securities-backed Lending.  

“JJ’s track record of driving growth and innovation—combined with his strong background in finance and operations and proven ability to cultivate and strengthen key partnerships—positions him well to lead Strategic Customer Solutions into the future,” Hawley said.  

JJ joined Nationwide in 2009 as a fellow in the General Counsel Rotation Program. Since that time, he has served in leadership roles of increasing responsibility across Nationwide Financial Operations, Finance and Strategy, including Vice President of Nationwide Financial Finance, AVP of Retirement Plans Finance and Chief of Staff to the President of Nationwide Financial. He also held leadership roles in Retirement Plans Operations and Nationwide’s Office of Corporate Strategy. 

Honoring Tina Ambrozy’s legacy of leadership 

After an exceptional 30-year career at Nationwide, Tina Ambrozy recently shared her decision to retire from Nationwide at the end of this year. 

“Tina’s impact on Nationwide Financial—and on so many of us who’ve had the privilege to work with her over the years—is hard to overstate,” Hawley said. “She’s always led with heart, vision, and an unwavering commitment to putting the customer at the center of everything we do.”  

Since 2019, Tina has served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Customer Solutions. Under her leadership, SCS emerged as a true accelerator of Nationwide Financial businesses, lifting results across Nationwide’s financial services portfolio. Her team helped the company enter new partnerships and grow sales with some of the industry’s largest and most well-known distribution partners. SCS also introduced digital and technology capabilities that make it easier to do business with Nationwide, helping the company become more efficient and protect customers from threats of fraud.  

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Craig Hawley, president of Nationwide Financial, announced today that Joseph Aniano has been named leader of its Investment Management Group (IMG), effective immediately. He succeeds Kevin Jestice, who was recently appointed leader of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. 

With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Aniano brings deep expertise across investment, distribution and operations functions, including leadership of SEC and FINRA-regulated entities. His strategic mindset, collaborative approach and commitment to building high-performing teams have consistently delivered results across Nationwide Financial. 

“Joe is a proven leader who understands how to drive transformation while fostering a culture of transparency, trust and collaboration,” said Hawley. “His ability to align strategy with execution and his passion for delivering exceptional outcomes through engaged teams make him the right choice to lead IMG into its next chapter.” 

Prior to this role, Aniano served as president of Nationwide Securities, LLC (NSLLC), where he led the firm’s direct-to-consumer and business partner investment and advice solutions. During his tenure, he successfully realigned the business model, restored profitability and improved the client experience. He also led IMG Product Lifecycle Management, overseeing the strategic direction and advancement of sub-advised investment solutions across mutual funds, variable insurance funds, collective investment trusts and ETFs. Before joining Nationwide, Aniano held leadership roles at UBS, including head of Investment Management Research, and also worked at BBR Partners and Morgan Stanley earlier in his career. 

Aniano holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Marist University, where he played Division I lacrosse, and an MBA from Adelphi University. He maintains FINRA Series 7, 24, 66 and 99 licenses and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation.  

Nationwide Investment Management Group (IMG) is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. IMG provides access to a curated list of investment solutions across asset classes that seek to outperform across market environments using a subadvised model offering access to specialized knowledge and expertise at institutional pricing. IMG holds its managers to the highest performance standards through uncompromising oversight by its nearly 20-person investment research team and provides ongoing market, economic and investment insights to help investors identify opportunities, manage risk and stay informed. 

Learn more about the services Nationwide Investment Management Group provides. 

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Nationwide has tapped Joe Chamberlain to lead its Small Commercial Operations and Service Solutions organization. Chamberlain brings more than 30 years of underwriting and operations leadership experience in the insurance industry. Most recently, he served as Chief Administrative Officer at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, where he oversaw operations across multiple commercial lines including property, marine, workers’ compensation, financial lines and political risk. He’s also held leadership roles with Alliant, CNA and Lamb Insurance Services.

 “Joe’s people-first leadership style and deep industry experience make him an ideal fit to lead our Small Commercial Operations and Service Solutions team,” said George Williams, senior vice president and leader of Nationwide’s Small Commercial business. “Throughout his career, he’s built a reputation for operational excellence and strategic execution, and his ability to drive results while fostering strong team culture will be a tremendous asset to Nationwide.”

Chamberlain will join Nationwide’s Small Commercial leadership team and report directly to Williams.

“I’m excited to join Nationwide and lead the Small Commercial Operations and Service Solutions team as it enters an exciting period of growth and transformation, and continues to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, quality and employee engagement,” Chamberlain said. “I hope to use my industry experience to contribute to Nationwide’s longstanding culture of collaboration and teamwork.”

Chamberlain has a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from Monmouth University. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker announced today that Craig Hawley has been named the incoming president and COO of Nationwide Financial, effective Sept. 1. In January, John Carter announced his intention to retire as leader of the company’s financial services business. 

“With more than 30 years in the financial services industry, Craig Hawley is a results-driven leader and innovator who is committed to creating value for advisors and their clients,” Walker said. “His proven track record at Nationwide makes him a strong fit to lead our financial services business, which has become a $50 billion industry leader, consistently outperforming the competition in earnings and sales growth as we deliver on our mission to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care.”  

Craig currently serves as President of Nationwide Annuity, a top 10 seller of annuity products in the U.S., representing more than $130 billion in assets in 2024. With a distinguished career of more than 30 years in the financial services industry, Craig is widely recognized as a visionary, results-driven leader and innovator. He previously led Nationwide Retirement Solutions Distribution, overseeing sales teams responsible for more than $175 billion in assets under management and supporting over 2.5 million participants in preparing for and living in retirement. 

Craig also played a pivotal role in Nationwide’s acquisition of Jefferson National in 2017, later leading the business—renamed Nationwide Advisory Solutions—until its integration into Nationwide Annuity in 2019. His earlier roles include serving as General Counsel and Secretary at Jefferson National, Assistant General Counsel at ARM Financial Group, and Associate at the law firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. 

Craig holds a Juris Doctor and bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Louisville. He is an active member of several boards, including the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), LIMRA Annuity Advisory Board, University of Louisville College of Business Board of Advisors, and the Star House Board of Trustees.  

In the coming weeks, Craig and John Carter will work together as they transition responsibilities.  

Nationwide Annuity will continue to operate under Craig Hawley’s leadership until a new leader is announced.


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Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced that Arthur Toth has joined the company’s Business Development team as Technical Director, focusing on sales of fixed annuity products as an investment only solution. His immediate focus will be to drive adoption in state-initiated savings plans such as 529, ABLE and retirement savings plans. Toth reports to Hutch Schafer, vice president of business development for Nationwide Retirement Solutions.

Toth’s new role marks a return to Nationwide. Prior to serving as a project leader at WTW since February 2023, Toth held several roles during an eight-year tenure at Nationwide where his experience included business development for Pension Risk Transfer, investment analysis in Nationwide’s Office of Investments, and actuarial support for the company’s Specialty Insurance business.

“Arthur’s deep experience across a wide range of financial services roles will greatly benefit our team and the partners and plan sponsors that we serve,” said Schafer. “His dedicated support will be instrumental in accelerating our growth for an important part of our business.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect nearly $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457 plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service. 

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © 2025 Nationwide

¹Plan Sponsor 2025 Recordkeeping Survey
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Andrew King has been named leader of the Manager Strategies team for Nationwide’s Investment Management Group (IMG).

In his new role, King will be responsible for driving manager research and oversight, with a focus on selecting and partnering with top tier subadvisors to elevate IMG’s investment platform.  He will report to Chris Graham, Chief Investment Officer for IMG.

King brings a wealth of knowledge and over two decades of experience in investment research, strategy development and portfolio oversight. Most recently, King served as head of the investment manager research team at Schwab Asset Management.

“Andrew’s expertise and leadership will be critical as we pursue next level performance across our platform,” said Chris Graham. “His track record and strategic vision will help differentiate IMG and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients.”

King earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. King also holds a CFA® credential. 

Nationwide Investment Management Group (IMG) is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. IMG provides access to a curated list of investment solutions across asset classes that seek to outperform across market environments using a subadvised model offering access to specialized knowledge and expertise at institutional pricing. IMG holds its managers to the highest performance standards through uncompromising oversight by its nearly 20-person investment research team and provides ongoing market, economic and investment insights to help investors identify opportunities, manage risk and stay informed. 

Learn more about the services Nationwide Investment Management Group provides.

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Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced that Kevin Jones has joined the company’s distribution team as divisional sales manager focusing on specialty markets. Jones reports to Rich Porter, senior vice president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions Distribution. 

Jones joins Nationwide after 18 years at Edward Jones, where his experience spanned retirement product management, compliance, technology, and operations. His time at Edward Jones was preceded by military service in the U.S. Army. 

In his new role at Nationwide, Jones will build and lead a team of workplace retirement plan consultants focused on serving financial advisors and their business-owner clients.

“Kevin brings a track record of successfully shaping product-partner relationships, implementing distribution strategies and spearheading product development initiatives,” said Porter. “That background positions him perfectly to help our distribution team expand key relationships through strategic partnerships, enabling us to deliver products and solutions to investment professionals across the country.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect nearly $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457 plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service. 

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 
 
Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © 2025 Nationwide

¹ Plan Sponsor 2024 Recordkeeping Survey

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Nationwide has tapped Michael Tripp to lead its Personal Lines Sales and Distribution organization. He will report to Casey Kempton, Nationwide’s President of P&C Personal Lines.  

Tripp brings a wealth of knowledge and experience most recently from his time at AmTrust as the head of MidAmerica Region, where he successfully drove significant growth in premium while effectively managing portfolio and profit targets. Prior to that he held positions at Chubb, The Hanover Insurance Group and The Hartford.   

“I’m thrilled to join Nationwide at such a pivotal time for Personal Lines.  As we deepen our commitment to the independent agency channel, my focus is on strengthening distribution, expanding our geographic reach, and driving performance through sharper insights and robust partnerships.  We have the team, the strategy, and the momentum to take this business to the next level.” said Tripp.   

At Chubb, Michael served as vice president, Small Business Sales, and led the Southwest Region as Small Commercial RVP. Prior to Chubb, he held sales leadership positions at The Hanover and The Hartford, demonstrating his ability to drive profitable growth across local, regional and national territories with independent agency partners.  

“Michael is known for his collaborative approach, working seamlessly with product, underwriting, actuarial and field sales teams,” said Kempton. “Tripp has embraced agent feedback to achieve outstanding results. His strategic insights and proven track record will be instrumental as Nationwide elevates our sales strategies and enhances the agent experience.”  

Tripp started his new role on April 28. 

Nationwide is turning to a 25-year insurance industry veteran to lead its new Property and Casualty Business Performance Office. Jen Kyung has been tapped to head up the team and is charged with working across Nationwide’s P&C organization to optimize the business’s capabilities, standards and performance.  

Kyung spent more than five years at USAA, where she led underwriting strategy and innovation, integrating AI solutions, automation and enhanced data analytics to improve underwriting precision and customer solutions. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Ernst & Young, where she led underwriting business transformations; Zurich Insurance, where she oversaw large-scale strategic initiatives; and Accenture, where she built foundational expertise in P&C underwriting operations in Commercial and Personal Lines.  

“Nationwide’s P&C business is widely regarded across the industry as best in class,” said Kyung. “My goal is to take the work the talented and high-performing associates are doing to the next level by finding ways to do things more efficiently to the betterment of our customers and distribution partners.” 

The newly formed P&C Business Performance Office will collaborate closely with Nationwide’s P&C businesses to identify common approaches, tools and best practices that can be shared across the P&C organization to increase efficiency and effectiveness. 

“Jen brings a data-driven approach to business transformation and a leadership style that fosters collaboration and innovation which makes her the perfect choice for this role,” said Mark Berven, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Property & Casualty. “We look forward to the impact she will make as we continue to build on our strong momentum across the P&C organization.” 

Kyung’s leadership is well regarded in the P&C industry. Among many notable awards and affiliations, she served as the chair of the Insurance Information Institute’s (Triple-I) Executive Leadership Committee from 2020 to 2024 and was recognized as one of Reuters’ Trailblazing Women in Insurance in 2024. 

Kyung begins her new duties on April 21, 2025. 

Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced that John Chavez has joined the company’s distribution team as mid-market acquisition director covering government sector new plan acquisition for the western territory of the United States. Chavez reports to Rob Bilo, associate vice president of acquisition and strategic relationships for Nationwide Retirement Solutions. 

Since joining Nationwide in 2015, Chavez has served in institutional relationship management and consultant relations roles at Nationwide Financial, where he’s helped drive significant growth in institutional and government sales and top consultant relationships.  His other previous experience includes serving as a consultant at Multnomah Group and holding key sales and consultant relations roles at TIAA, Prudential, and Scudder Kemper Retirement Services.

“With more than three decades in various sectors of the retirement industry, John brings a strong background in sales, retirement plan consulting, and consultant relations,” said Bilo. “His extensive experience working closely with investment advisors, retirement plan committees, and plan sponsors will be a tremendous asset to our team and valued partners.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect nearly $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457 plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service. 

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 
 

Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © 2025 Nationwide
¹ Plan Sponsor 2024 Recordkeeping Survey
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Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced that Frank Pyles has joined the company’s institutional sales team as director covering a 13-state territory across the western region of the United States. Nationwide’s institutional sales team serves 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) plans with more than $25 million in assets under management. Pyles reports to Oscar Rodriguez, head of Institutional Sales. 

Frank’s background includes roles as a regional director at Vanguard and a fiduciary retirement plan consultant with CAPTRUST.

“With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Frank is known for his results-driven approach and his dedication to building strong partnerships with advisors and consultants, creating positive outcomes for retirement plan sponsors and participants,” said Rodriguez. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to Nationwide and look forward to the contributions he’ll make as he engages with our valued clients and partners.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect nearly $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457 plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service. 

Visit nrsfperoru.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 
 

Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © 2024 Nationwide
¹ Plan Sponsor 2024 Recordkeeping Survey
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