Media Contacts

Thank you for visiting Northwestern Mutual’s online News Room. If you’re a member of the media, please contact us via phone or email:

800-323-7033
mediarelations@northwesternmutual.com

A member of the public relations team will respond to your inquiry at our earliest convenience.

Betsy Hoylman
Director – Media & Public Relations

Jean Towell
Assistant Director – Media & Public Relations

Jennifer Ryan
Assistant Director – Media & Public Relations

Peter Balistrieri
Senior Public Relations Consultant

John Gardner
Public Relations Consultant

Kirsten Helgeson
Public Relations Consultant

Shawn Rolland
Public Relations Consultant

Nikita Vilim
Public Relations Specialist

Monica Lawton
Public Relations Intern

Executive Biographies

John E. Schlifske Chairman and CEO John E. Schlifske is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northwestern Mutual and a member of the company’s Board of Trustees. Schlifske, who has been Chairman and CEO since 2010, previously served as President of the more than 155-year-old company. Earlier, he was interim President and CEO of Russell Investment Company, a Northwestern Mutual subsidiary. He joined Northwestern Mutual in 1987 as an investment specialist and later headed various aspects of its investment function. He also headed Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, the company’s retail broker-dealer.

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Gary (Skip) A. Poliner President Gary (Skip) A. Poliner is President of Northwestern Mutual and a member of the company’s Board of Trustees. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial and investment functions as well as the enterprise risk management framework covering financial, investment and operational risks for Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries. Previously, Poliner has held numerous senior management positions including Chief Risk Officer, Executive Vice President - Investment Products and Services, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Poliner joined Northwestern Mutual’s Law department in 1977 as an attorney.

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Michael G. Carter Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer As Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Michael G. Carter is responsible for the company’s financial management function, including the Actuarial, Controllers, Corporate Planning and Financial Management departments. Carter joined Northwestern Mutual in 1994 as a senior attorney in the law department. He has held numerous leadership roles throughout the company, including serving as Vice President – Field Compensation and Planning and head of Policyowner Services. Prior to joining the company, he was an attorney with Quarles & Brady in Milwaukee.

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Joann M. Eisenhart Senior Vice President – Human Resources As Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Joann M. Eisenhart leads the human resources, facilities and philanthropy function, which includes the Human Resources, Facility Operations, and Strategic Philanthropy & Community Relations departments. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual in 2011, Eisenhart was Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Pfizer, Inc, where she led a global human resources team that supported more than 100,000 employees worldwide.

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Ronald P. Joelson Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer As Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Ronald. P. Joelson oversees management of the company’s $174.0 billion general account investment portfolio, which supports the company’s surplus and its insurance and annuity products. Joelson is responsible for the company’s three investment subsidiaries: Mason Street Advisors, LLC; Northwestern Mutual Capital, LLC; and Northwestern Mutual Real Estate Investment, LLC. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, he served as Chief Investment Officer of two global insurance companies: Genworth Financial and Prudential Financial.

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Jean M. Maier Executive Vice President – Enterprise Operations and Technology As Executive Vice President – Enterprise Operations, Jean M. Maier oversees departments including Information Systems, Enterprise Solutions, Facility Operations, New Business, Policyowner Services and Underwriting Standards. She has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in departments including Compliance, New Business, and Field Services and Support.

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Raymond J. Manista Senior Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary As Senior Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary, Raymond J. Manista is responsible for the company’s law and public affairs function, including the Law, Communications, Compliance/Best Practices and Government Relations departments. He also chairs the company’s Management Committee. Manista has held various leadership roles since joining Northwestern Mutual in 1998, including Vice President – Corporate Planning, where he oversaw the company’s strategy development and planning, and Vice President – Litigation Counsel. Prior to joining the company, he was a shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., in Milwaukee, where he practiced commercial litigation.

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Gregory C. Oberland Executive Vice President – Products, Sales and Marketing As Executive Vice President – Products, Sales and Marketing, Gregory C. Oberland is responsible for the company’s strategy of delivering financial security to clients through a holistic planning process that incorporates insurance and investment solutions. Oberland joined Northwestern Mutual in 1982 as an attorney. He has held numerous executive-level positions with increasing responsibility for a variety of product line and operational areas, including Disability Income, Life Underwriting, Policyowner Services and Information Systems.

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Todd M. Schoon Executive Vice President – Agencies As Executive Vice President – Agencies, Todd M. Schoon is responsible for the company’s distribution system.  Schoon began his Northwestern Mutual career in 1988, and went on to build a successful network office in New York, NY. He has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility including Assistant Regional Director of Agencies, Managing Partner, and Vice President – Agencies.

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Last updated February 1, 2013

Studies and Resources

Northwestern Mutual periodically researches people's attitudes, perceptions, motives, and behaviors toward certain financial issues.

Planning and Progress 2013 Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored a study exploring the state of planning in America today that provides unique insights into people’s current attitudes and behaviors toward money, goal-setting and priorities. (Conducted January 2013)

Planning and Progress 2013 Study

Long-Term Care Awareness Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored a poll highlighting the attitudes and motivations of Americans for planning for long-term care. More than 2,500 U.S. adults were surveyed. (Conducted October 2012)

Long-Term Care Awareness Study

Life Insurance Awareness Poll

Northwestern Mutual sponsored a poll seeking to learn the attitudes and motivations among Americans towards obtaining life insurance and planning for future financial security. The study surveyed more than 2,000 American adults aged 18 and older. (Conducted 2012)

Life Insurance Awareness Poll

State of Planning in America Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored a series of research exploring the state of planning in America. The studies look at what type of planners people are, how their plans may have changed over time, whether they feel they’re moving in the right direction, how they assess their ability to stay on course, and how this all fits against the larger backdrop of what is taking place in America today. (Conducted 2012)

State of Planning in America Study

Cost of Long Term Care Study

The Long Term Care Group, Inc. conducted customized Cost of Care research on behalf of Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, a Northwestern Mutual company, of nearly 2,000 home healthcare providers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes in specific regions of the United States. (Conducted 2011)

Cost of Long Term Care Study

“Stick with It” Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored The “Stick with It” Study to gauge Americans’ goal setting, self-discipline and financial tenacity. (Conducted 2011)

“Stick with It” Study

Financial Realities Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored The Financial Realities Study that explored how Americans are responding to the economic landscape that existed in 2010 and considering how attitudes and priorities may be changing regarding the approach to finances. The study also provided insight into Americans’ propensity to give advice against the backdrop of economic uncertainty and how that advice compares across multiple generations. (Conducted 2010)

Financial Realties Study

American Reality Study

Northwestern Mutual sponsored The American Reality Study to help provide insight into how Americans are handling the economic, political and social changes taking place in the U.S. and what the impact has been on the way they view their lives and their future. (Conducted 2009)

American Reality Study

Seven Financial Habits Study

Northwestern Mutual conducted a study exploring the connections between financial and physical fitness. The study helps explain how financial behavior and attitudes of individuals with above average income are related to health and wellness perceptions. (Conducted 2008)

Seven Financial Habits Study

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