Press Releases

COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the work site in the United States, announced today that Eric Kirsch, the company's global chief investment officer, has been named to the Power 100 List of CIOs by Chief Investment Officer Magazine. It is the first time that Kirsch and Aflac have been represented on this prestigious list. According to CIO Magazine, Kirsch brought a "track record of vision and success" to Aflac when he was hired in 2011.
Aflac's Chief Global Investment Officer Eric Kirsch appears at No. 57 on Chief Investment Officer Magazine's 2015 Power 100 List.

"We are pleased and proud that Chief Investment Officer Magazine recognized Eric's contributions to our company with this tremendous accolade," Aflac Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Frederick Crawford said. "Eric's leadership in building a top-tier investment practice has been critical to creating and defending shareholder value in volatile capital markets.  As a member of executive management, Eric's efforts have enhanced our strong franchise in the US and Japan ensuring the security that our customers need when they choose Aflac as their voluntary insurance provider."

According to CIO Magazine, the Power 100 was selected based upon five categories: innovation (30 percent), collaboration (30 percent), talent development (20 percent), fund size (15 percent) and asset-owner tenure (5 percent).

"Eric Kirsch caught our attention initially because of his stellar background. Having led the investment activities of the insurances divisions for the most prestigious investment firms, his choice to manage a portfolio in-house spoke to his passion for this industry," said Chief Investment Officer Magazine Managing Editor Leanna Orr. "But it's what he did with Aflac's fund that earned him one of just two U.S. insurance CIO positions on the Power 100: Building a team almost from scratch, opening a brand-new office, engaging with peer CIOs, overhauling the portfolio to manage a very specific risk profile and continuing to serve the community as a Baruch College investment board member."

Kirsch is responsible for Aflac's $104 billion investment portfolio and is charged with a mission of achieving high average asset quality through diversification and by identifying attractive investment opportunities around the world, while mitigating risks. Kirsch manages a team of more than 50 investment professionals.

About Aflac:
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For nearly six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the work site. Through its trailblazing One Day PaySM initiative, Aflac U.S. can receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business day. In Japan, Aflac is a leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac individual and group insurance products help provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For nine consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2015, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 17th consecutive year. Also, in 2015, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 14th time, ranking the company No. 1 in innovation for the insurance, life and health category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One Day PaySM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.