DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A prestigious journal that recognizes leaders for their commitment to diversity is spotlighting Larry D. Zimpleman, chairman, president and CEO of the Principal Financial Group®. Profiles In Diversity® Journal is recognizing Zimpleman as one of 33 CEOs from around the globe for achievements in diversity and inclusion.
"We're proud to celebrate business leaders like Larry who have demonstrated a true commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment and are champions for diversity in every sense of the word,” said Katherine Sandlin, editor-in-chief, Profiles In Diversity Journal.
Zimpleman has been instrumental in promoting and strengthening the commitment to diversity and inclusion at The Principal®. He is a key supporter of Employee Resource Groups at The Principal that are designed to help diverse groups of employees feel welcomed and respected. The groups include: African American/Black, Asian, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Ally, Hispanic/Latino, New Employee, Veterans, Disabled, Women in Technology and Women’s Network for Leaders.
The groups give a formal setting for employees who have similar interests and who have been underrepresented in the workforce and/or have faced societal adversity. The groups also help educate the majority population.
Zimpleman also leads the Global Connection Program, giving the company’s 14,800 employees the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and best practices by connecting with employees across the globe.
“Diversity is critical to our success and every employee plays a role,” said Zimpleman. “The breadth of experiences and perspectives offered by so many employees—at all levels—from locations across the globe, makes us stronger. We need to continue to celebrate differences and make sure to foster an inclusive environment so all employees feel welcomed and accepted. That is when we do our best work and are able to focus on our shared mission: to help people meet some of the most important challenges of their lives.”
In 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama tapped Zimpleman to be a part of a small group of CEOs to lead and serve as model for hiring qualified long-term unemployed individuals.
Zimpleman blogs on the company’s intranet site where he covers a variety of topics to spark conversations between employees throughout the world. He also frequently writes on global topics such as citizen diplomacy, for the company’s external blog, The Principal Blog.
The Principal has been recognized for the company’s diversity and inclusion core values:
- For the 12th consecutive year, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Top 50 Companies and 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women recognized the policies and practices that encourage women's advancement.
- A 90 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, a tool to rate U.S. businesses on their practices and policies regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees, consumers and investors.
- The Principal as a great place to work in Working Mothers’ 100 Best Companies for progressive and family-friendly cultures; Computerworld’s 100 Best Places to Work in IT; and Pension & Investment’s recognition of the company as the Best Place to Work in Money Management.
- In addition to being a leader in efforts to promote the hiring of U.S. veterans, the recognition by a group called Employer Support of Guard and Reserve for policies helping those who serve.
Zimpleman joined the company in 1971 as an actuarial intern. From 1976 to 2006, he served in various management and leadership positions at the officer level, mostly in the U.S. retirement business. He was named president and chief operating officer of the Principal Financial Group in 2006, president and chief executive officer in 2008 and to his current position in 2009.
Zimpleman serves as chair of the Financial Services Roundtable and is an active member of the Business Roundtable. He is also is a member of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress (IPEP) board, appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad. He currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees for Drake University, chair of the Iowa Business Council, and is a member of the Business-Higher Education Forum.
About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal Financial Group has $483.2 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.4 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.
1 “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are
registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member
of the Principal Financial Group.
2 As of Dec. 31, 2013.
