
Joshua Durand joined Lincoln Financial Group as the Assistant
Vice President, Variable Life Product Leader. Josh is a Fellow of the
Society of Actuaries and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Josh’s prior experience was with Nationwide Financial Services, where
he had over ten years of experience in variable life product development.
Josh will work in the Hartford offices of LFG.
Becky Wingate accepted the position of President, Highland Capital
Brokerage. She was the President and CEO of LifeMark Partners since
1999 and led LifeMark to its status as a nationally recognized marketing
organization. Becky began her career in the insurance industry at United
of Omaha. Her final role there involved bringing the company into the
brokerage marketplace in 1991.Becky will provide strategic and tactical
leadership to Highland’s employees and principals from Highland’s corporate
offices in Austin, Texas.
Paul Gadbut joined the Lincoln Financial Group as the Director
of Sales, Executive Benefits, in the Employer Markets Division. Most
recently, Paul was the Senior Vice President of Pen-Cal Administration,
covering all of the eastern United States for the sales and administration
of non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Paul was a founding partner
of an agency that was dedicated to insuring professional athletes and
entertainers. His prior life insurance experience included wholesaling
assignments with Manulife Financial, CIGNA, and Lincoln Financial. Paul
is located in the Chicago area.
Rich La Vista accepted the position of Vice President and National
Sales Manager (Broker Dealer Channel) with the Institutional Distribution
Group of Protective Life. Rich joins Protective from Royal Bank of Canada’s
Insurance Division where he was a national sales manager. Rich’s annuity
and life distribution experience sales management includes positions
with Alllmerica Financial and Keyport Life. He also held management
and account executive positions with Paine Webber, Shearson Lehman Hutton,
and AG Edwards.
Mike Korthaus joined Protective Life Insurance Company’s Institutional
Distribution Group as the Vice President, Financial Institution Sales.
He was most recently the Managing Director, Financial Institutions Distribution
at Symetra (formerly Safeco Life). Mike had previous experience with
Talbot Financial Services, Safeco Life Insurance, Manulife Financial,
Home Life, and American United Life. He will manage Protective’s relationships
with financial institutions and oversee distribution of annuity products
in that channel.

A list of clients for whom we have recently completed search assignments
would include:
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Protective Life, Institutional Distribution Group
- National Financial Partners/ Highland Capital Brokerage
Examples of titles of positions for which we have found candidates
are listed below:
- Annuity Sales Manager
- Directors of Sales, Executive Benefits
- Life Divisional Sales Manager
- Regional Sales Vice President
- President
- Vice President, Administration
- Vice President, Advanced Marketing
- Vice President, Brokerage Annuities
- Vice President, Financial Institution Sales
- Vice President, Independent Agent Annuity Sales
- Vice President, Investor Relations
- Vice President, Marketing
- Vice President, Product Development & Strategy
- Vice President, Sales & Marketing