Unum CEO and Leadership

Richard (Rick) McKenney is president and chief executive officer for Unum Group, one of the world’s leading providers of workplace financial protection benefits. He became president in April 2015 and assumed the role of CEO in May of the same year.

McKenney served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Unum Group from 2009 to 2015, where he was responsible for overall financial management of the company, including financial reporting, treasury and capital management, strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, investments, financial planning, investor relations, and enterprise risk management. He also chaired Unum’s Operating Committee, which oversees the company’s business operations throughout the U.S. and U.K.

Prior to joining Unum in 2009, McKenney was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sun Life Financial, Inc., an international financial services company based in Toronto.

McKenney began his career at GE, transitioning in his roles from manufacturing to financial leadership. He joined GE Financial Assurance in 1996 and became CFO in 2002. In 2004 he became CFO of Genworth Financial as part of the team that launched its initial public offering from GE.

In 2017, McKenney joined the Board of Directors of U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. He also serves on the board of the American Council of Life Insurers.

McKenney graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

McKenney lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., with his wife and three children, and is active in his community. He serves on the boards of the Siskin Hospital for Rehabilitation and the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation.

Steve Zabel is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Unum Group, one of the world’s leading providers of workplace financial protection benefits. Appointed as CFO in July 2019, he is responsible for overall financial management of the company, including financial reporting, treasury and capital management, strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, investments, financial planning, investor relations, and global risk management.

Prior to this role, Zabel served as president for Closed Block Operations responsible for the financial management and service operations for the long term care and individual disability legacy business. Steve began his tenure at Unum in August 2013 as chief risk officer and led the global risk management program.

Michael Simonds works at Unum and a CMO at Unum and is based in Maine.

Operations and Technology Executive for a Fortune 250 company with international experience leading organizations in the areas of Operations, P&L Management, Digital, Information Technology, Decision Analytics, Supply Chain, Logistics, Fleet Management, Customer Service, and Shared Services. This experience is a blend of CIO and COO roles and demonstrates strategic vision, operational excellence, and entrepreneurial skills in environments that required large-scale digital, analytics and technology-driven transformations. Prior experience includes EVP, Corporate Operations and President, Recycling for Waste Management, and Chief Information Officer and Product Management roles at Monster.com, Putnam Investments, and Ryder. Operating / General Management roles include P&L Management of two $1.5B businesses, and managing transportation and logistics operations for a $14B company.

Richard (Rick) McKenney is president and chief executive officer for Unum Group, one of the world’s leading providers of workplace financial protection benefits. He became president in April 2015 and assumed the role of CEO in May of the same year.

McKenney served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Unum Group from 2009 to 2015, where he was responsible for overall financial management of the company, including financial reporting, treasury and capital management, strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, investments, financial planning, investor relations, and enterprise risk management. He also chaired Unum’s Operating Committee, which oversees the company’s business operations throughout the U.S. and U.K.

Prior to joining Unum in 2009, McKenney was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sun Life Financial, Inc., an international financial services company based in Toronto.

McKenney began his career at GE, transitioning in his roles from manufacturing to financial leadership. He joined GE Financial Assurance in 1996 and became CFO in 2002. In 2004 he became CFO of Genworth Financial as part of the team that launched its initial public offering from GE.

In 2017, McKenney joined the Board of Directors of U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. He also serves on the board of the American Council of Life Insurers.

McKenney graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

McKenney lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., with his wife and three children, and is active in his community. He serves on the boards of the Siskin Hospital for Rehabilitation and the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation.