Life Insurers Council Appoints New Chair to Advisory Board

In Windsor, Connecticut, on February 6, 2026, the Life Insurers Council (LIC) announced that Dierdre Woodruff will chair the LIC Advisory Board this year, as revealed at their Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Woodruff, serving as the senior vice president of Puritan Life Insurance Company, is expected to lead efforts in navigating regulatory compliance requirements and augmenting membership strategies.

"Our organization is excited to have Dierdre as chair during this pivotal period. We aim to explore new strategies for membership growth while addressing our members' evolving needs," stated Dean Lambert, executive director of LIC. He emphasized her role as a "forward-thinking, transformational leader," crucial for advancing the LIC's mission to support small and mid-sized insurance firms in optimizing performance through shared knowledge in underwriting and claims management.

Joan Cleveland, the current president and CEO of SWBC Life, will transition to immediate past chair, maintaining her place on the LIC Board. Brad Phillips, CEO and chairman of Liberty Bankers Insurance Group, will assume vice chair duties, while Rear Admiral Brian E. Luther (Ret.), president and CEO of Navy Mutual Aid Association, will undertake the role of LIC secretary. Newly appointed board members Christopher Belz, president and CEO of Catholic Life Insurance, and Silvio Rodia, executive vice president and chief risk officer of ELCO Mutual Life and Annuity, will begin their three-year terms focused on enhancing industry collaborations and risk management strategies.