Jackson CEO Laura Prieskorn to retire at the end of 2026

Jackson Financial Inc.¹ announced Laura Prieskorn, President and Chief Executive Officer, has shared her plans to retire at the end of 2026. Don Cummings, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will succeed Prieskorn as President and CEO and as a member of the JFI Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2026.

Brian Walta will succeed Cummings as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, also effective October 1, 2026. Prieskorn will serve as an advisor through December 31, 2026, to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“Serving as CEO has been an incredible honor and the highlight of my nearly 40 years with Jackson. I am deeply grateful to have worked alongside so many talented colleagues and am proud of what we have accomplished together,” said Prieskorn. “Having partnered closely with Don and Brian for many years, I have every confidence in them leading Jackson through its next chapter.”

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we sincerely thank Laura for her exceptional leadership and her unwavering commitment to Jackson, its associates, shareholders and all other stakeholders,” said Steven A. Kandarian, Chairman of Jackson’s Board of Directors. “She stepped into the CEO role during a pivotal and transitional time at Jackson, masterfully leading the company through its demerger and overseeing significant growth during her tenure.

“Both Don and Brian bring decades of leadership and industry experience to their next roles at Jackson. They are well-respected, commercially minded leaders with a strong commitment to innovation and execution. We have the utmost confidence in Don’s and Brian’s ability to sustain the company’s strong culture and to further execute on Jackson’s growth strategy.”

Cummings has more than 30 years of industry experience. He joined Jackson in 2020 as Chief Accounting Officer and Controller and was promoted to CFO in 2024. Prior to Jackson, Don served as the interim CFO at Fortitude Reinsurance Company and previously was the Global Corporate Controller at American International Group, Inc. “I am incredibly honored by the Board’s trust and confidence in me. I am excited for this next opportunity and look forward to serving with dedication,” said Cummings. “Jackson has a clear growth strategy and an exceptional team of associates who are dedicated to serving our customers, shareholders and the communities where we live and work. I look forward to building on our momentum and positioning Jackson for continued, long-term success.”

Walta joined Jackson in 1997 and has served in a variety of leadership roles. He has been responsible for leading critical financial and business functions, including hedging, asset liability management, capital modeling and business plan forecasting. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst certification, is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. “I am humbled and excited to step into the CFO role and build on Jackson’s solid financial foundation. I look forward to maintaining strong financial stewardship, supporting the company’s strategic growth priorities and delivering sustainable value for shareholders.”

ABOUT JACKSON

Jackson^® (NYSE: JXN) is committed to helping clarify the complexity of retirement planning—for financial professionals and their clients. Through our range of annuity products, financial know-how, history of award-winning service* and streamlined experiences, we strive to reduce the confusion that complicates retirement planning. We take a balanced, long-term approach to responsibly serving all our stakeholders, including customers, shareholders, distribution partners, employees, regulators and community partners. We believe by providing clarity for all today, we can help drive better outcomes for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.jackson.com.

*SQM (Service Quality Measurement Group) Call Center Awards Program for 2004 and 2006-2025. (Criteria used for Call Center World Class FCR Certification is 80% or higher of customers getting their contact resolved on the first call to the call center (FCR) for three consecutive months or more.)

Jackson^® is the marketing name for Jackson Financial Inc., Jackson National Life Insurance Company^® (Home Office: Lansing, Michigan) and Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York^® (Home Office: Purchase, New York)