By David G. Barry
Aflac Inc.
is set to get a new global chief investment officer – a role that involves
overseeing more than $120 billion in assets for the Columbus, Ga.-based
insurer.
Eric Kirsch, who also is president of Aflac Global Investments, will
retire on March 31. He will be succeeded by Bradley Dyslin, who has been
deputy CIO, senior managing director, global head of credit and strategic
investment opportunities. Dyslin will start his new role on January 1. Kirsch
will serve as executive vice president until his retirement becomes effective.
Kirsch has been with Aflac for 11 years. During that time, he most notably
designed and grew Aflac Global investments, which is responsible for managing
the invested assets of the insurer’s insurance subsidiaries in Japan and the
United States. As of December 31, it managed more than $122 billion in general
account assets and had 121 investment and support professionals in New York and
Tokyo.
In a statement, Kirsch said, “the opportunity to join Aflac 11 years ago with a
mission to build out a global investments business has been one of the greatest
and most rewarding challenges of my career. It has been my privilege to serve
Aflac and its shareholders, and to have the opportunity to fulfill the mission
with which [Aflac Chairman and CEO Daniel Amos] originally charged me.”
Aflac said that Kirsch created a “disciplined approach” to managing the general
account, “emphasizing asset allocation, diversification, liquidity and risk
management.” Under his leadership, Aflac Global has invested across public and
private assets, currency strategies and alternatives. More recently, Aflac
Global has become a partner with third-party asset managers through joint
ventures and minority equity stakes.
In a prepared statement, Daniel P. Amos, Aflac chairman and CEO, said that Kirsch
“has successfully built a leading global investment team while managing a
well-diversified portfolio that has mitigated risk and added substantial income
resulting in substantial value for Aflac and its shareholders. At the same
time, Eric has developed a superior leadership team, including Brad, who has
done an equally remarkable job enhancing our investment function.”
Dyslin was one of the original executives hired when Kirsch was building out
the investment platform, joining Aflac in 2012 as managing director and global
head of credit. His role was expanded in 2017 to co-lead the external
management platform, during which time assets managed by third parties
increased to $12 billion. Dyslin was promoted to deputy global CIO in early
2021. His background also includes investment management roles with Principal
Financial Group, Deutsche Asset Management and Hartford Investment Management.