Northwestern Mutual Names New Senior Leadership
Northwestern Mutual has announced senior leadership changes as part of the company’s succession planning process.
Earlier this year, Northwestern Mutual announced that Chairman and CEO John Schlifske will retire December 31, 2024, and President Tim Gerend will succeed Schlifske in serving as the company’s next CEO, effective January 1, 2025. As a continuation of the recent CEO succession announcement, the company shared additional key senior leadership promotions approved by its Board of Trustees, specifically naming successors for the chief investment officer and chief human resources officer roles both of whom will report to Gerend.
Jeb Bentley, currently vice president, wealth and investment management, will succeed Jeff Lueken as executive vice president, chief investment officer, effective January 1, 2025. In the near-term, Bentley will be named vice president and co-chief investment officer and will join the company’s senior leadership team when he assumes full responsibility following Lueken’s retirement at the end of the year. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the teams managing the company’s more than $316 billion1 general account investment portfolio.
Bentley joined Northwestern Mutual in 2004 and held several leadership and investment roles for Northwestern Mutual’s general account investment portfolio across investment strategy, public and private markets. He also serves as president and CEO of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC). Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Bentley held investment roles at Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners and was an investment banking analyst at Lehman Brothers in New York.
He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Williams College and a master’s degree in finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Kelly Culler, currently vice president, talent and senior HR business partner, will succeed Don Robertson as executive vice president, chief human resources officer effective January 1, 2025. Culler will join the company’s senior leadership team in January 2025. In this role, she will be responsible for the company’s human resources strategy and operations, talent management, employee experience, diversity and inclusion, and compensation and benefits.
Culler joined Northwestern Mutual in 2018 and brings more than two decades of HR experience across recruiting and developing talent, workforce planning and strategic realignments.
Currently, she is responsible for talent recruiting for the company and serves as a senior HR business partner to the company’s sales distribution, marketing and communications function in addition to its insurance and service business. Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Culler was in HR leadership roles at several technology companies, including Apttus, Sutherland, and TeleTech Holdings. She received her bachelor’s degree in organizational management from the University of Michigan.
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Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with over six years of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. Amanda received her degree in journalism and government and politics at St. John’s University. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado with her partner. In her free time, Amanda enjoys running, cooking, and watching the latest drama show.
