Principal Names Friedrich President of United States Insurance Solutions

May 18, 2017 by Principal Financial Group

DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Principal Financial Group^® today announced the Board of Directors, as part of a planned succession, has elected Amy C. Friedrich president of United States Insurance Solutions effective immediately. She succeeds Deanna Strable-Soethout who became chief financial officer in February of this year.

Amy Friedrich, president of United States Insurance Solutions at Principal. (Photo: Principal)

“Amy brings more than 20 years of business experience, and more recently, 13 years of increasing responsibility within our Specialty Benefit Division,” said Daniel J. Houston, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Principal^®. “Her strong leadership skills, background in strategy development, and drive for innovation will help her be successful in this expanded role.”

Additionally, the Principal Board of Directors, has named Gary P. Scholten chief digital officer effective immediately. The new role for the enterprise focuses on driving and accelerating digital technologies across the enterprise. He remains executive vice president and chief information officer.

“Digital technologies are critical when it comes to producing results and delivering an experience that meets the changing needs of our customers,” says Houston. “They’re changing interactions and expectations everywhere and this signals our commitment to having them change Principal, too. Gary will do an outstanding job moving our digital strategy forward.”

Friedrich background
Friedrich, 46, joined the company in 2000 in a performance improvement role for Corporate Strategic Development. Friedrich was promoted to corporate strategic development director in 2003. In 2004, Friedrich moved to the Specialty Benefits business unit. She was promoted to second vice president of Specialty Benefits in 2006 and named vice president of Specialty Benefits in 2008 before assuming her current most recent position of SVP of Specialty Benefits Division in 2015. Prior to joining the company, she was a change management manager with Accenture. Friedrich earned her bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa and her master’s from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Scholten background
Scholten, 59, joined the company in 1980 as an assistant planning analyst. He held multiple IT positions, was promoted to senior vice present and chief information officer in 2002, and to his present position, executive vice president and chief information officer in 2014. Scholten is a fellow of the Life Office Management Institute and is past chair of the LOMA Individual Product Systems Committee. He chairs Principal Global Services, Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Principal Financial Group located in Pune, India. Scholten currently serves on two Principal International Chilean Boards: Principal International de Chile S.A, and Principal Asset Management Chile S.A. Scholten has served as the chairman of the board for the Technology Association of Iowa. In 2011, he was appointed to serve on the Iowa Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council, and joined the group’s executive committee in 2013. Scholten received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

About Principal^®
Principal helps people and companies around the world build, protect and advance their financial well-being through retirement, insurance and asset management solutions that fit their lives. Our employees are passionate about helping clients of all income and portfolio sizes achieve their goals – offering innovative ideas, investment expertise and real-life solutions to make financial progress possible. To find out more, visit us at principal.com.

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Source: Principal Financial Group

Originally Posted at Business Wire on May 16, 2017 by Principal Financial Group.