Jay Orlandi will join Newport Beach, California-based Pacific Life as its next general counsel on November 2.
Orlandi is moving to Pacific Life from Transamerica, where he has been executive vice president and COO with responsibility for all business support functions such as legal, communications, human resources, corporate development, M&A, strategy, data analytics, information security and marketing.
Orlandi joined Transamerica in 2005. He was general counsel for four years before being promoted to chief legal and administrative officer in 2018 and to COO last year. He recently served as acting CEO for Transamerica’s individual solutions business including life and long-term-care insurance, fixed and variable annuities, and mutual funds.
He started his career in private practice with Barger & Wolen, advising clients on insurance regulatory and complex business litigation matters.
Orlandi will succeed Sharon Cheever following her planned retirement after four decades with Pacific Life. She started work at the company in 1986 as an assistant vice president in investment law, became vice president of investment counsel in 1992 and was appointed general counsel in 2008.
During her career with the company, Cheever had legal oversight for the formation of PIMCO Advisors and its sale to Allianz, and the acquisition of Aviation Capital Group and its subsequent sale.
‘During her tenure at Pacific Life, Sharon and her team built a highly regarded legal organization that has counseled our business areas on a wide variety of complex legal, legislative and business issues, helping us become a leading life insurer in our industry,’ Pacific Life chair, president and CEO Jim Morris says in a statement.
‘She has been a trusted source of support and advice and has used her wisdom and experience to represent our interests in countless business, M&A, legislative and legal matters. I wish Sharon all the best in her much-deserved retirement.’
Morris adds: ‘Jay’s deep knowledge of the insurance industry coupled with his strong governance and regulatory background make him especially well suited to serve as our next general counsel. In addition, his operational background and experience as a trusted counselor with senior leaders and board members will serve as an invaluable asset as we continue with our transformational efforts at Pacific Life.’
Ben Maiden
Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Governance Intelligence, an IR Media publication, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. Ben was previously managing editor of Compliance Reporter, covering regulatory and compliance...
