Leadership Team
Strength. Perseverance. Vision.
Accountability.
These are words often associated with corporate leaders - and
we're proud to say that at Nippon Life Benefits, our leadership
team possesses each of these valuable characteristics.
But we're even prouder of the words we can add to the list that
specifically reflect our company's Japanese heritage:
Respect. Honor. Integrity. Compassion.
We invite you to meet the leadership team of Nippon Life
Benefits.
Toshihiro Nakashima
Toshihiro Nakashima
President and Chief
Executive Officer
President and Chief Executive Officer, Toshihiro "Tommy"
Nakashima joined Nippon Life Benefits in March, 2010 from the
parent company, Nippon Life Insurance Company of Japan. He
has held several investment management and human resource
management positions there, serving most recently as General
Manager of the Human Resources Department.
Tommy joined the Nippon Life Insurance Company in 1988. He
resided in Singapore from 1998-2002 where he held the position of
Equity Portfolio Manager. Tommy has a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Economics from Keio University in Tokyo.
Tommy resides in Connecticut with his wife and two children.
He enjoys reading, golfing, and spending quality time with his
family.
Jerry Patterson
Jerry Patterson
Executive Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer
As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Jerry
Patterson has over 23 years experience in the financial services
industry - most recently, more than 7 years in the individual and
group insurance operations for The Principal Financial Group.
Prior to that, he has held various senior sales, marketing, and
operational positions for a number of large financial services
companies, including MetLife, Prudential, and Manulife. Jerry
also spent time in public accounting and tax law with BDO Seidman
and Husch & Eppenberger early in his career. Named to his
current position in 2008, Jerry is currently responsible for the
oversight of the U.S. insurance operations for Nippon Life
Benefits.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in
Accounting from the University of Wisconsin and his juris doctorate
from Drake Law School. He is a former active member of the
Kansas and Missouri Bar Associations, and has held numerous
positions with industry related or organizations over the years,
including LIMRA and the Conference Board.
Jerry resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children.
He is an accomplished author, musician and photographer.
Fran Young
Fran Young
Senior Vice President, Chief
Business Development Officer
As the senior sales and business development executive for
Nippon Life Benefits, Fran leads the development and execution of
sales strategy, including new business development and client
retention in the US market. She is responsible for all distribution
channels, including local, Japanese and Korean regional group
office sales through the US insurance brokerage market, as well as
the General Agency channel.
Fran joined Nippon Life Benefits in 2007 with over 25 years
industry experience and has held previous sales leadership
positions with Guardian Life Insurance, NYLCare, (a New York Life
subsidiary) and New England Life.
Fran holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from
Bloomsburg University. She resides in New Jersey with her husband
and daughter and currently serves on the board of Catherine McAuley
High School in Brooklyn NY and is a supporter of the Special
Olympics Sailing Program in Monmouth County NJ.
Paulette Wunsch
Paulette Wunsch
Vice President, General
Counsel & Secretary
As General Counsel, Vice President and Secretary to the Board of
Directors, Paulette Wunsch is responsible for oversight of all
legal affairs pertaining to Nippon Life Benefits.
Paulette joined Nippon Life Benefits in May 2010; previously she
had worked in the legal and compliance departments of WellCare
Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare and Oxford Health Plans. Prior to
joining Oxford, Paulette served as counsel at Day, Berry &
Howard, LLP, in the firms' Stamford, Connecticut office and as an
Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in
Manhattan.
Paulette holds a master of laws from Columbia University School of
Law, a juris doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a
bachelor of arts degree from the University of Chicago.
Paulette resides in Connecticut with her husband and two children.
She enjoys biking, tennis and photography.
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