Company Overview: Senior Management Profiles
Larry Zimpleman, President and CEO
Larry D. Zimpleman is president and chief executive officer of The Principal Financial Group® and a member of the Board of Directors. He is responsible for overall management of the company. He also serves as Chairman of the Board and a director of the Principal Funds.
Zimpleman joined the company in 1971 as an actuarial intern. From 1976 to 1997 he served in various management and leadership positions at the officer level in the pension department. He was named vice president in 1997, senior vice president in 1999, executive vice president in 2001, president of Retirement and Investor Services in 2003, and president and chief operating officer in 2006. He was named to his current role in 2008.
Zimpleman currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Drake University. He is also a member of the Board of the Employee Benefit Research Institute. In both 2002 and 2006, Zimpleman was elected to serve as a delegate to the National SAVER Summit held in Washington, D.C.
Barry Griswell, Chairman
J. Barry Griswell is chairman of the Principal Financial Group®.
Griswell joined the company in 1988 as an officer and agency vice president. He became senior vice president in 1991 and executive vice president in 1996. He was named president in 1998, became CEO in 2000 and chairman of the board in 2002. As of May 1, 2008, he will be chairman of the board. Prior to his association with the Principal Financial Group, he served as president and CEO of MetLife Marketing Corporation, a brokerage and supplementary distribution-marketing subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Griswell is active in various industry and community organizations. He serves as the president elect of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, effective July 1, 2008. He serves as a board member on the following boards; The Business Roundtable, Herman Miller, Inc., Financial Services Roundtable, and the LL (LIMRA/LOMA) Global Board. Griswell is also a member of the board of trustees of the Americans for the Arts and S.S. Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education. He is a current trustee of Central College in Pella, Iowa and Berry College in Rome, Georgia. He is chair of the Business Committee for the Arts and trustee of United Way of America Board.
John E. Aschenbrenner, President - Insurance and Financial Services
John E. Aschenbrenner is president - Insurance and Financial Services with oversight of the company's Life and Health Insurance Segment.
Aschenbrenner has more than 32 years experience in the financial services industry - including nearly 20 years in strategic business development, financial oversight and executive management at the Principal Financial Group. He joined the company in 1972 and through the years held a variety of executive level positions in the organization's pension, individual retail, and group life and health businesses. Named to his current position in 2003, Aschenbrenner is responsible for overall management of the company's life and health insurance businesses generating approximately $275 million of annual operating earnings and includes Individual, Group, Medical and Supplemental Benefits divisions as well as distribution channels supporting each.
Aschenbrenner received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and his master's degree from the University of Iowa. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Aschenbrenner currently serves on the Board of Visitors of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business - University of Iowa, Board of Directors Chair, United Way of Central Iowa and Board Member of America's Health Insurance Plans. He is the past chairman of the board of directors of the Iowa College Foundation and LIMRA International. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a member of the Actuaries Club of Des Moines, member of National Coalition on Health Care, LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow (LLIF), and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).
Daniel J. Houston, President - Retirement and Investor Services
Daniel J. Houston is president with the Principal Financial Group®. He is responsible for the company's Retirement and Investor Services Segment, and he also oversees Principal Trust Company.
Houston joined the company in 1984 as a group representative in the Dallas group and pension office. He was promoted to senior group and pension representative in 1986, and named group and pension consultant in 1988. He was elected an officer and named regional director of group and pension sales in 1990 and promoted to regional vice president in 1993, to vice president in 1997, and to senior vice president in 2000, to executive vice president in 2006 and to his current position in 2008.
Houston is a member of the board of HealthExtras, Principal Financial Advisors, Principal Trust Company (Asia) Limited and Principal Bank. He is chairman of the board of Principal Trust Company. Houston is on the Iowa State Business School Dean's Advisory Council.
James P. McCaughan, President - Global Asset Management
James P. McCaughan is president - Global Asset Management, and chief executive officer of Principal Global Investors. McCaughan oversees all global asset management activities, including developing global strategies and identifying and analyzing market opportunities.
McCaughan has 29 years experience in the investment business and was most recently the CEO of the Americas division of Credit Suisse Asset Management, New York, NY. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was president and chief operating officer of Oppenheimer Capital in New York. McCaughan is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.
Karen E. Shaff, Executive Vice President - General Counsel
Karen Shaff is the executive vice president and general counsel for Principal Financial Group, Inc. She was elected to this position in 2004.
She joined The Principal® in 1982 as an attorney in the law department, and was elected an officer and named assistant counsel in 1983; associate counsel in 1986; counsel in 1990; vice president and associate general counsel in 1995; senior vice president and deputy general counsel in 1999; senior vice president and general counsel in 2000.
Prior to working at The Principal, Shaff was an associate with the law firm of Austin and Gaudineer from July 1979 through February 1982.
She holds a law degree from Drake University Law School. Shaff obtained her B.A. from Northwestern University in Political Science.
Shaff is a board member and Immediate Past President of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, a member of the American, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations, the Association of Corporate Counsel and a past member of the Iowa State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct and the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors. She is a director of GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company and GuideOne Specialty Mutual Insurance Company. Shaff is also chair of the Science Center of Iowa board of directors, a member of the Drake Law School board of counselors and a trustee of Grinnell College.
Norman R. Sorensen, Executive Vice President - International Asset Accumulation
Norman R. Sorensen is executive vice president of the Principal Financial Group and president of Principal International, Inc. Among his global responsibilities, he leads the efforts of The Principal to liaise closely with the Brazilian, Chinese, Indian and Mexican Governments on those countries' Pension Reform projects at all levels of public and private sector policy.
Sorensen joined the company in 1998 and has extensive experience in entering new global markets and launching financial services products, with a focus on Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Sorensen serves on the boards of most of the Principal International member companies. He serves as the Chairman of the American Council of Life Insurers International Policy Committee; is a Board Member of the U.S. Coalition of Service Industries and of the International Insurance Society; and is a Fellow of the Brazilian Insurance & Pensions Academy (ANSP). He is a director of Sara Lee Corporation and is a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.
Greg Burrows, Senior Vice President-Retirement and Investor Services
Gregory J. Burrows is senior vice president, Retirement and Investor Services with the Principal Financial Group®.
Burrows joined the company in 1986 as a senior group and pension representative. In 1991 he was named regional director of group and pension sales and elected an officer. From 1994-1996, he was president and CEO of AHP, a former company subsidiary. Burrows served as the managing director of Principal International’s Argentina operation from 1996-1999 and Japan operation from 1999-2001. He returned to Des Moines, Iowa, in 2001 as the Retirement and Investor Services chief marketing officer, where his responsibilities included merger and acquisition oversight. In 2007, he assumed the role of vice president and managing director, Retirement and Investor Services and was named senior vice president, Retirement and Investor Services in 2008.
Ronald L. Danilson, Senior Vice President - Retirement and Investor Services
Ronald L. Danilson is senior vice president - Retirement and Investor Services.
Danilson joined the company in 1972 as a management trainee in pension issue and was later promoted to pension issue analyst. He became supervisor of pension issue in 1977 and senior pension revision underwriter in 1980. He was elected an officer and named assistant director of pension underwriting in 1982, associate director in 1988, and director of group operations in 1991. Danilson was named senior vice president of Delaware Charter Guarantee and Trust Company in 1994, executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1995 and to president and chief executive officer in 1996. He was promoted to vice president-pension in 1999 and named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Principal Mutual Funds in 2000. He was promoted to vice president - Retirement and Investor Services in 2001 and to his current position in 2004.
Greg Elming, Senior Vice President and Controller
Greg Elming is senior vice president and controller of the Principal Financial Group, Inc. In this role, Elming is responsible for directing the organization's accounting function and providing oversight on the preparation of financial statements and management reports.
Elming joined the company in 1982 as a staff accountant. He was named administrator-corporate accounting and taxes in 1985 and manager in 1986. He was elected an officer and named assistant controller in 1988, and director-financial reporting in 1995. He was named a second vice president in 1998 and vice president and controller in 2000. An Iowa native, Elming received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. He is a Fellow of Life Management Institute (FLMI).
Ralph C. Eucher, Senior Vice President - Retirement and Investor Services, Human Resources and Corporate Services
Ralph C. Eucher is senior vice president - Retirement and Investor Services, Human Resources and Corporate Services. He also serves as CEO of Principal Funds.
Eucher joined the company as an officer of commercial real estate in 1994. He was named president of Principal Mutual Funds in 1999 and senior vice president of the company in 2002. He was named chairman of Principal Bank in 2004.
Eucher is a member of the Investment Company Institute, American Bar Association and Iowa Bar Association. He is also a member of the American Management Association.
Nora M. Everett, Senior Vice President - Retirement and Investor Services
Nora M. Everett is senior vice president, Retirement and Investor Services and president, Principal Funds with the Principal Financial Group.
Everett joined the company in 1991 as an attorney. She was elected an officer and named to assistant counsel in 1992, second vice president and counsel in 1999, vice president and counsel in 2001, senior vice president and deputy general counsel in 2004 and to her current position in 2008.
Everett is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa Bar Association and the Association of Life Insurance Counsel. She serves on the boards of Principal International, Inc., the Chrysalis Foundation and the Iowa Council for International Understanding.
Thomas J. Graf, Senior Vice President - Investor Relations
Thomas J. Graf is senior vice president - Investor Relations of the Principal Financial Group. His responsibilities include institutional shareholder, registered shareholder and agency rating relations.
Graf joined the company in 1972 as an actuarial student following a summer internship here in 1971 and was promoted to actuarial associate in 1975. He was elected an officer and named assistant actuary in 1976, associate actuary in 1980, actuary in 1984, second vice president and actuary in 1987, vice president and actuary in 1989, vice president and chief actuary in 1992, vice president and chief information officer in May of 1992 and to his present position in 2001.
Graf is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. He serves as a member of the board of trustees for Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.
Joyce N. Hoffman, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Joyce Nixson Hoffman is senior vice president and corporate secretary of the Principal Financial Group.
Hoffman joined the company in 1980 as an attorney in the Law Department. She was elected an officer and named assistant counsel in 1981, associate counsel in 1985, corporate secretary in 1988. She was named vice president and corporate secretary in 1991 and promoted to her current position in 2001. She was associated with the West Des Moines law firm of Stamatelos and Smith from 1977 to 1980.
Hoffman has been a member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross since 2001, chair of the Governance Committee since June 2005 and is also a member of the Executive Committee. She is an advisory board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa, Inc. and a director of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Iowa. She is also a member of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries.
Ellen Z. Lamale, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
Ellen Z. Lamale is senior vice president and chief risk officer of the Principal Financial Group.
Lamale first worked for the company in 1976 as an actuarial student. She was elected an officer and named assistant actuary in 1980, associate actuary in 1986, actuary in 1987, senior actuary in 1989, second vice president and actuary in 1991, vice president and chief actuary in 1992, and to her present position in 1999.
She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Julia M. Lawler-Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Julia M. Lawler-Johnson is senior vice president and chief investment officer of the Principal Financial Group.
Lawler joined the company in 1984 as a commercial real estate representative and was promoted to regional equity administrator in 1988 and senior regional equity administrator in 1990. She was elected an officer and named assistant director of Commercial Real Estate - Equities in 1993, and executive advisor in 1994. She was named director - Capital Markets in 1996, vice president - Capital Markets in 1999, president - Real Estate Equity Group in 2000. She was promoted to her current position in 2002.
Terry Lillis, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Terry Lillis is senior vice president– Retirement and Investor Services with the Principal Financial Group.
Lillis joined the company in 1982 as an actuarial student. He was promoted to actuarial associate in 1985 and senior actuarial associate in 1986. He was elected an officer and named assistant actuary in 1988, associate actuary in 1992, actuary in 1995 and second vice president, pension actuarial in 1999, and to chief financial officer-Retirement and Investor Services in 2000. He was named to his present position in 2008.
Lillis is a member of the Iowa Actuaries Club, the American Academy of Actuaries, and a member of the Society of Actuaries. He also serves on the board of the Peace Officers Retirement System and Iowa Dollar for Scholars.
Timothy J. Minard, Senior Vice President - Retirement Distribution
Timothy J. Minard is senior vice president - Retirement Distribution. Minard is responsible for all retirement sales at the Principal Financial Group, including the growth and development of all distribution channels and partnerships for retirement services.
Minard joined the company in 1986 as a sales representative in Detroit, Mich. Following success in sales, Minard was promoted to regional vice president in 1994. He was appointed to his current position in 2005.
Mary A. O'Keefe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Mary A. O'Keefe is senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Principal Financial Group. She is responsible for corporate marketing, communications, strategic planning and development.
O'Keefe joined the company in 1990 as media relations manager. She was elected an officer and named director of corporate relations in 1993, and named senior vice president in 1998. She was promoted to her current position in 2004.
O'Keefe is a member of the board of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Dowling High School Foundation, Kum & Go, and the National PRSA Audit Committee. In addition, she is a member of the public relations committee of the American Council of Life Insurance and is a member of the Public Art Commission.
Gary P. Scholten, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Gary P. Scholten is senior vice president and chief information officer of the Principal Financial Group.
Scholten joined the company in 1980 as an assistant planning analyst and was named planning analyst in 1981, systems analyst in 1984, senior systems analyst in 1987 and senior systems coordinator in 1988. He was elected an officer and named assistant director in 1989, director of information systems in 1992, second vice president - information services in 1994, vice president - retail information services in 1998, and to his present position in 2002.
Scholten is a fellow of the Life Office Management Institute and chaired the LOMA Individual Product Systems Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Iowa College Foundation, the Board of Directors Executive Committee of the Technology Association of Iowa, the Information Technology Council of the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the University of Northern Iowa Computer Science Advisory Board.
David Shafer, Senior Vice President-Health
David Shafer is senior vice president of the Health division of the Principal Financial Group.
Shafer has more than 25 years experience in the health insurance industry, including nearly 20 years in strategic business development, network development and expense management.
Prior to joining The Principal® in 2008, Shafer served as president of pharmacy benefit management at Cigna. He has also held a variety of executive level positions at United HealthCare, including senior vice president of national operations, and executive vice president of United’s AmeriChoice program.
Shafer received his bachelor's degree from Marshall University, and has completed executive programs at Penn State University and the University of Michigan.
Deanna D. Strable, Senior Vice President - Individual Life and Specialty Benefits
Deanna D. Strable is senior vice president - Individual Life and Specialty Benefits. Strable is responsible for the individual life and disability and group life, disability, dental and vision lines of business.
Strable joined the company in 1990 as an actuarial assistant. She was appointed actuarial associate in 1992, senior actuarial associate in 1994 and named officer in 1995. In 1999, Strable was promoted to second vice president and vice president in 2002, then senior vice president in 2005. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.
