New York Life Announces Executive Promotions

New York — New York Life Insurance Co. (New York Life) recently announced that Katherine O’Brien has been promoted to first VP and chief diversity officer in the office of the chief diversity officer. In addition, Dorothea Rodd has been promoted to first VP in the human resources department, and Gayle Yeomans has been promoted to first VP in the office of governmental affairs.   
          
O’Brien is responsible for identifying and implementing best practices in the areas of recruitment and training of a diverse workforce, and the development and promotion of culturally diverse and women employees. Since she assumed this post in 2006, New York Life has been consistently acknowledged by external diversity organizations, most recently earning 100 Best Companies 2008 from Working Mother; Top 60 Diversity Elite 2008 from Hispanic Business; 10 Top Companies for Innovation in Diversity 2008 from Profiles in Diversity Journal; and 50 Best Places To Launch a Career 2008 from BusinessWeek, among others.
          
O’Brien joined New York Life in 1995 as a litigator in the office of the general counsel, and has held positions of increasing responsibility in employment litigation and benefits compliance. She was appointed chief diversity officer in 2006.
 
Rodd is now responsible for overseeing all operations and services functions in the human resources department, which include service delivery for employee and agent benefit plans, management of outsourced vendor relationships, HRIS data management and reporting, payroll and budgeting as well as accounting and financial controls. She also is responsible for the talent management support group, which facilitates learning and leadership programs, performance management process, relocation assistance programs and tuition reimbursement for employees. 
                      
Joining New York Life in 1981 as an auditor trainee, Rodd became a senior auditor in 1987, and in 1988 moved to the corporate finance department as a senior accountant. She became a director of accounting in 1989, AVP in 1991, and corporate VP in 1995. In 2003, she was elected VP in the corporate services department, where she was responsible for procedures and systems for accounts payable, credit card administration and financial analyses for procurement. 
                                  
Responsible for directing all state government relations efforts, Yeomans has broad experience in life insurance regulation and legislation, including solvency. She also serves as the company’s representative to the American Council of Life Insurers Insurance Regulation Steering Committee, which has jurisdiction over actuarial, tax, risk classification and market conduct issues. Additionally, Yeomans has been a key voice with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on a range of issues, including those that come before its Life and Health Actuarial Task Force. 
 
Yeomans rejoined New York Life as VP in 2002. Prior to that, she was at the New York State Assembly, where she was the chief counsel and secretary to Minority Leader John Faso. Previously, she was with New York Life for four years in the office of governmental affairs. In addition, she worked for the New York State Senate Majority as principal counsel for health, housing and Medicaid from 1990 to 1994, and served as counsel to Minority Leader Pro Tempore Kemp Hannon in the New York State Assembly from 1987 to 1989. 
 
Source: New York Life