Global Executive Search firm DHR International is pleased to announce the placement of EVP and Chief Information Officer for Northwestern Mutual, Neal Sample. Partner David Merwin and Managing Partner Sal DiFranco conducted the search for Northwest Mutual. Both partners have over 20 years of technology recruiting experience and their practices include significant experience placing CIO’s, CTO’s, CDO’s and CISO’s along with their direct reports.
Merwin and DiFranco were able to fill this placement quickly after securing this search once they found Sample’s resume. With his level of expertise and management experience, Merwin and DiFranco knew that Sample was the clear choice for the Northwestern Mutual CIO role.
“Neal brings a tremendous technology background and pedigree to this critical role as the company looks to execute a comprehensive legacy technology transformation,” said Merwin.
“His deep technology experience is coupled with strong financial services exposure along with significant scale and complexity garnered from key roles with Express Scripts and American Express. Moving from a mainframe centered environment to a more integrated platform incorporating emerging technologies, Northwest Mutual is focused on building a stronger online and overall relationship between its advisors and its client base with Sample’s guidance.”
As EVP and CIO for Northwest Mutual, Sample will manage the entire IT organization across the company including infrastructure, applications, networks and information security and report directly to John Schlifske, Chairman, President and CEO of Northwestern Mutual.
“With his extensive technology management experience and R&D background, Neal is an excellent fit for our Chief Information Officer role,” said Schlifske. “Neal’s leadership and skill set will have a significant impact as we continue our digital transformation and create a leading digital experience for our clients and advisors.”
Prior to his role with Northwestern Mutual, Sample served as the CIO for Express Scripts before transitioning to Chief Operating Officer. He also worked as a CIO and Group President for American Express and worked at the executive level in managing roles for eBay, Yahoo and Right Order, giving him over 15 years of C-Level experience that prepared him for this role with Northwestern Mutual.
Sample has several patents and is a featured technology and business speaker in dozens of global forums. He is also a cited expert in several books and publications on topics regarding technology and data management.
Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.5 million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. The company manages nearly $150 billion of investments owned by its clients and held or managed through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual ranks 111 on the 2019 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2019. For more information visit www.northwesternmutual.com/.
For 30 years DHR International has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly owned offices spanning the globe. DHR’s renowned consultants specialize in all industries and functions in order to provide unparalleled senior-level executive search, management assessment and succession planning services tailored to the unique qualities and specifications of our select client base. For more information on DHR International, visit www.dhrinternational.com.
###