Craig L. DeSanto

Chair, President & CEO

Craig DeSanto is Chair, President & CEO of New York Life Insurance Company, the nation’s largest mutual life insurer and one of the largest life insurers in the world.

Mr. DeSanto has been with New York Life for more than 25 years, starting as an actuarial summer intern in 1997. Throughout his career with the company, he has led multiple businesses, including retail life insurance, institutional life insurance, the company’s registered investment adviser Eagle Strategies, and New York Life’s portfolio of strategic businesses.

In 2020, he expanded and further diversified the strategic business portfolio when he led the acquisition of New York Life’s group life and disability business — the largest acquisition in company history.

Mr. DeSanto was appointed to New York Life’s Executive Management Committee in 2017 and has served as president since 2020. He was appointed as a member of the company’s Board of Directors in 2021, became the company’s 19th chief executive in 2022, and chair of the Board of Directors in 2023.

In addition to his leadership at New York Life, he serves on the boards of the American Council of Life Insurers and the Partnership for New York City. He is a former board member of LL Global Inc.

Mr. DeSanto holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

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