Aegon announces the appointment of Mark Mullin as CEO of Aegon Americas and member of the Aegon Management Board to succeed Pat Baird, who retires January 1, 2010.
Mr. Mullin began his career with Aegon in 1987. Since then, he has held various positions within the Aegon organization both in the United States and in Europe. In 2002, he was appointed President and CEO of Diversified Investment Advisors, Aegon’s US provider of pensions and retirement services and in 2006 became head of Aegon’s annuity and mutual fund businesses. In January this year, Mr. Mullin was named President of Aegon Americas, working closely with CEO Pat Baird.
“Mark is ideally qualified to lead Aegon Americas in what continues to be a challenging but exciting time in the world’s largest market for life insurance and pensions,” said Aegon CEO Alex Wynaendts. “We are grateful to Pat for his leadership and many contributions to the growth of our business in the Americas. Mark inherits a dedicated, customer-focused organization, with leading market positions, a diverse business mix and a broad distribution network. Mark’s extensive knowledge of Aegon and its businesses will serve him well as he and his team work to further strengthen our position in the United States and elsewhere in the Americas.”
As President and CEO of Aegon Americas, Mr. Mullin will have responsibility for Aegon’s operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Mr. Mullin will also serve on Aegon’s Management Board. In this capacity, Mr. Mullin will assume the added responsibility for Aegon’s global life reinsurance activities. Mr. Baird's Management Board responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region will be taken over by Mr. Wynaendts. Mr. Mullin’s appointment to the Management Board is subject to approval of the Dutch Central Bank.
Mark Mullin stated: "I am extremely honored by this opportunity to build on the solid progress achieved in recent years within Aegon Americas. Now more than ever, our customers require high quality products and services that will give them greater control over their financial futures and ultimately peace of mind regardless of market swings and inevitable economic volatility. I look forward to working closely with the talented and dedicated people who lead and support our businesses as we build upon Aegon's leadership position in serving this developing need."
In total, Aegon employs approximately 14,500 people in the Americas and serves over 30 million individual policy and certificate holders. Aegon Americas also includes the Transamerica companies, Aegon’s leading retail brand in the United States.
Pat Baird began his career at Aegon USA in 1976. Since then, he has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Tax before being appointed to CEO and President of Aegon USA in March 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, Mr. Baird has served as a member of Aegon’s Management Board. Mr. Baird also led Aegon’s efforts to expand its businesses in Canada and Mexico. He recently concluded a one-year term as Chairman of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the leading industry organization in the United States, and will continue to serve next year as a member of its Executive Committee.
Biography: Mark Mullin
President & CEO, Aegon Americas, member Aegon Management Board
Age: 46; Nationality: American
Mark Mullin worked initially for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company as an investment analyst before joining Aegon in 1987. He held various positions within the organization both in the United States and at corporate headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. In 1995, he joined Diversified Investment Advisors in Purchase, New York State. From 2002, he served as President & CEO of Diversified Investment Advisors as well as Group Head for Aegon’s pension business in the United States. In January 2009, he was appointed President of Aegon Americas. Mr. Mullin holds a BA in English and International Studies from LaSalle University in Philadelphia and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He also has an MS in Finance from Loyola University in Baltimore. As President of Aegon USA, Mr. Mullin has been a member of both Aegon USA’s Risk and Capital Committees and currently chairs the Americas Management Board. He also served as group head for several business units, including Diversified Investment Advisors, Transamerica Retirement Services, Transamerica Retirement Management, Transamerica Investment Management, Transamerica Fund Advisors, Transamerica Capital Management and Extraordinary Markets.
Mr. Mullin’s career at Aegon: key dates
1987: Joins Aegon as Senior Securities Analyst (Baltimore, United States).
1989 – 1993: Portfolio Manager and Team Leader, Private Placements (Baltimore, United States).
1993 – 1995: Senior International Portfolio Manager (The Hague, the Netherlands).
1995 – 2001: Chief Investment Officer & Head of Strategic Alliances, Diversified Investment Advisors (Purchase, United States).
2002 – 2006: President & CEO, Diversified Investment Advisors / Group Pension Head, Aegon USA (Purchase, United States).
2006 – 2009: Executive Vice President, Aegon USA / Head of Aegon’s pension, annuity and mutual fund businesses in the United States.
January 2009: Appointed President of Aegon Americas.
January 2010: Appointed CEO of Aegon Americas and member of Aegon’s Management Board.
