Sammons Financial Group Announces Leadership Transition

Rob TeKolste is named Chief Executive Officer as Esfand Dinshaw retires at year-end

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sammons Financial Group today announced a planned leadership transition designed to support the company's continued long-term growth and strategic direction.

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, President Rob TeKolste will assume the dual roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Esfand Dinshaw will retire at the end of 2026 following a 27-year career with the organization, including the past 16 years as CEO. Upon his retirement, Dinshaw will continue to serve Sammons Financial Group on its Board of Directors.

The transition is the culmination of a thoughtful succession planning process that ensures leadership continuity while reinforcing the company's commitment to long-term value creation for customers, distribution partners, employee owners, and the communities in which it operates.

“Serving as CEO of Sammons Financial Group has been the greatest privilege of my professional career,” said Dinshaw. “Together, our employee owners transformed this organization into a diversified financial services enterprise while remaining grounded in our values and our commitment to long-term stewardship.”

Dinshaw added, “I have complete confidence in Rob and our leadership team, and I believe Sammons Financial Group is exceptionally well positioned for its next chapter.”

TeKolste has led many diverse areas of Sammons Financial Group over the past 25 years, assuming the role of president in January 2026. Since that time, TeKolste has worked closely with Dinshaw and across the company's five individual business lines to prepare for this leadership transition.

“Esfand’s leadership has shaped Sammons Financial Group into one of the strongest and most respected employee-owned companies in the US financial services industry,” said TeKolste. “I am honored to build upon that legacy alongside our talented leadership team and employee owners.

“Our strategy remains unchanged,” TeKolste said. “We will continue to invest in our businesses, serve our customers and distribution partners, and preserve the employee ownership culture that has long differentiated Sammons Financial Group.”

During Dinshaw’s tenure, Sammons Financial Group expanded from a life insurance and annuity provider into a diversified financial services organization serving two million customers through life insurance, annuities, retirement solutions, wealth management, and preneed insurance. The company also strengthened its financial position, broadened its portfolio of businesses and advanced a culture centered on employee ownership, disciplined growth, and long-term value creation.

Reflecting on his career, Dinshaw credited the organization's success to its employees.

“Everything we have accomplished has been made possible by the dedication, expertise, and integrity of our employee owners,” Dinshaw said. “Our shared values and culture of employee ownership has always been our greatest competitive advantage. It has guided our decisions, strengthened our businesses, and created lasting value for those we serve. I know that same culture will continue to define Sammons Financial Group for generations to come."

The company emphasized that its long-term business strategy remains unchanged as it continues to focus on innovation, disciplined growth, and delivering meaningful value to customers and distribution partners.

About Sammons® Financial Group, Inc.

The companies of Sammons Financial Group® help families and businesses by empowering futures and changing lives. Sammons Financial Group is employee owned with member companies that are among the most enduring and stable in the financial services industry. Sammons Financial Group is Midwest-based, with offices in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Virginia.