Lincoln Financial Names Chief AI Data and Analytics Officer
Lincoln Financial has appointed Nilanjan (Neel) Adhya as executive vice president, chief AI, data and analytics officer (CAIDAO), effective January 9, 2026.
In this newly created role, Adhya will advance AI and data as enterprise core capabilities. He will report to Ellen Cooper, chairman, president and CEO, and will join Lincoln’s Senior Management Committee.
Since 2021, Adhya served as chief digital officer and global head of Digital Platforms and Experiences at BlackRock, where he orchestrated client-facing AI initiatives and modernized the firm’s digital approach to deliver personalized and integrated at-scale customer-centric capabilities.
“As we continue to position Lincoln for future growth, we are building the foundational capabilities that will allow us to operate with greater speed, efficiency and insight. AI and data play an increasingly important role in supporting the optimization of our operating model,” said Cooper. “Under Neel’s leadership, we will take a thoughtful and disciplined step forward in leveraging AI to support business needs and drive tangible business outcomes.”
Prior to joining BlackRock, Adhya spent 16 years at IBM in various leadership roles, ultimately serving as chief digital officer and vice president of Digital Transformation. Adhya holds a master’s degree in Strategy and Finance from Yale University’s School of Management and a master’s degree in industrial engineering and Operations Research from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“I am honored to join Lincoln. Our opportunity is to apply AI and data in a focused, disciplined way that directly supports our strategy – enhancing the experience we deliver to customers, improving how work gets done and opening new pathways for innovation,” said Adhya. “This is about building enduring capabilities that accelerate our work, support growth and deliver value for clients, policyholders, shareholders and our employees.”
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