The Mutual of Omaha Board of Directors has appointed James T. Blackledge as CEO, effective April 1, and elected him to the company’s Board. He will replace Dan Neary, chairman and CEO. Neary has announced that he will retire, but will continue to serve as chairman of the board.
Blackledge was named president in November of 2014 and previously was EVP and chief information officer/chief risk officer, where he oversaw technology and systems infrastructure, as well as enterprise risk management. Blackledge joined the insurer as senior actuarial assistant in 1989, and for 14 years he served in various leadership roles within the group benefit services business unit, and six years as SVP and product line officer in the individual financial services business unit. He was named EVP and CIO and in 2012 also became chief risk officer.
“Mutual of Omaha is a company of strength, innovation and integrity with a very bright future, thanks to Dan Neary’s leadership,” Blackledge said. “I am honored by this opportunity to work with an excellent leadership team and a talented, engaged workforce in growing our business, serving our customers and preserving the superior reputation of our company.”
Neary was appointed president of Mutual of Omaha in August 2003 and was named chairman and CEO in December 2004.
