Security Benefit Leadership

Barry Ward joined Security Benefit Corporation as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Treasurer in 2013, assuming responsibility for finance, capital planning, risk management, income taxes, financial reporting, and treasury for the company’s corporate and insurance operations. He serves on the board of directors of various affiliates, including se2.

With a heavy focus in the annuity and life sector throughout his career, he most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Fidelity & Guaranty Life. While there, he was instrumental in leading the company through an intensive sale process, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Harbinger Group, Inc.

Barry has served as Vice President and Head of U.S. Financial Reporting for ING Insurance Americas, which included extensive M&A responsibilities. At the Ohio Department of Insurance, he was the Assistant Commissioner responsible for Financial Regulation, was a leader in the NAIC’s risk-based surveillance modernization initiative, led M&A transaction reviews, assessed capital alternatives for troubled insurance companies and was a member of the NAIC’s statutory accounting standards-setting working groups including Vice Chair of the Accounting Practices and Procedures Task Force. While at the Integrity Companies, a life and annuity insurer later acquired by Western & Southern, he served as Controller. Ward began his career at E&Y’s insurance practice where his principal client was Providian Corporation, a large life and annuity insurer later acquired by AEGON Corporation.

Barry has been a part of the life insurance industry for over 27 years. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is a Fellow, Life Management Institute, and is Chairman of the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation.

Bob Cicchi is an Underwriting VP at AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP and Vice President and Chief Underwriter at Security Benefit and is based in Houston, Texas. He has worked as Director International Underwriting at LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP, VP International Underwriting at AMERICAN UNITED LIFE, and Assistant Director at PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC. Bob studied at Iowa State University between 1976 and 1980.

Jessica Daniels is an Assistant Vice President, Chief of Staff at Security Benefit and is based in Topeka, Kansas. She has worked as Branch Office Administrator at Edward Jones, Administrative Director at Security Benefit, and Client Services Manager at Capstone Financial Advisors. Jessica studied at Baptist Bible College between 2000 and 2004.

John Keddy is a Chief Technology Officer at Security Benefit and is based in Media, Pennsylvania. He has worked as Program Manager at Imr Global; VP at CNO FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.; and Various at Chubb. John attended Rutgers University between 1983 and 1988, Wisconsin Lutheran College between 1979 and 1983, and Columbia Business School between 1994 and 1995.