AIG has hired a Lincoln Financial executive to help separate its Life & Retirement business into a standalone company and guide other streamlining efforts.

Lisa Buckingham is joining the company in April 2021 to take on a newly created position -Executive Vice President, Global Head of AIG Enterprise Design and Life & Retirement Separation Initiatives. She has been Lincoln Financial Group’s Executive Vice President and Chief People, Place and Brand Officer.

She “brings significant expertise and leadership skills that will help drive the success of the separation, and ensure that the organizational design of Life & Retirement and AIG’s remaining businesses allows them to continue operating as market leading companies in their respective industries,” AIG President and CEO Peter Zaffino explained in prepared remarks.

AIG announced in November that it would separate its Life & Retirement division into a standalone company, either through an initial public offering or private sale of the unit in stages over time.

“AIG is undergoing transformative change and actively designing a simpler and more effective corporate structure,” Zaffino said.

Zaffino became AIG’s new CEO on March 1, succeeding Brian Duperreault, who is now executive chairman of the board. Buckingham will be based in New York and report to Zaffino.

Buckingham has more than 30 years of corporate management experience. During more than 12 years at Lincoln she there she focused on organizational design and development, leadership effectiveness, culture building, enterprise communications, brand and advertising, continuity and talent development. She developed an extensive and accomplished background in people development and organizational design, according to AIG.

Among her awards: she was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2018, and HR Executive Magazine named her HR Executive of the Year in 2017. In 2015, Buckingham was one of the top 10 CHROs in a list published by Forbes.

Buckingham said she’s eager to get started at AIG.

“I look forward to helping AIG unlock significant value for its shareholders and other stakeholders,” she said in prepared remarks.

Source: AIG