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© History Oasis / Created via Midjourney
1875-1912
Dryden founded Prudential as “The Widows and Orphans Friendly Society” in Newark. He started out by selling industrial life insurance with small weekly premiums door-to-door.
He’s famous for his “Three Cents a Week” policy, making insurance available to everyday Americans.
Dryden adopted the famous Rock of Gibraltar logo in 1896.
Under his tenure, he grew assets from zero to $259 million.
Later, Dryden leveraged his business success to secure a U.S. Senate seat from 1907 until he died in 1911.
1912-1922
As the son of the founder, Forrest Dryden faced World War I casualties and the 1918 influenza pandemic that triggered $20 million in death claims. About 8% of company assets.
But he tripled company assets to $830 million.
His tenure ended amid a conflict-of-interest scandal tied to his personal stock holdings following investigations by the Lockwood Committee.
1922-1938
Duffield was a former solicitor general.
He maintained cautious underwriting through the Roaring ’20s before confronting severe Great Depression pressures.
Duffield saw Prudential’s mortgage holdings drop from $1.5 billion (1931) to $787 million (1935). But he grew policies by $1.5 billion between 1930-1935.
He innovated group insurance for employees (1924) and group health (1925).
Duffield appeared on TIME Magazine’s cover in September 1932.
He died in office in 1938.
1938-1946
As a decorated WWI officer and first national commander of The American Legion, D’Olier pushed Prudential into major medical coverage and expanded group insurance lines.
During his leadership, Prudential converted from a mutual to a policyholder-owned mutual structure. This set up the groundwork for its eventual 2001 IPO.
In 1944, he served President Truman as chair of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey while managing Prudential’s wartime operations.
He became Chairman in 1946, serving until he died in 1953.
1946-1960
At 40, Shanks became Prudential’s youngest president since Dryden.
He decentralized operations. Opening regional offices across the U.S. to adapt faster to local market pressures.
Shanks expanded group life and health insurance. He also created a commercial and industrial loan department in 1956.
1960-1969
Menagh expanded Prudential’s international presence and diversified offerings.
He launched the company’s first group variable annuity policy in 1964.
By 1967, Prudential surpassed Metropolitan Life as the world’s largest insurer by assets.
Menagh also established PIC Realty Corporation in 1968 to manage commercial properties, significantly growing the company’s investment portfolio across real estate and equities before retiring in 1969.
1969-1978
MacNaughton became president in 1969 and Chairman in 1970.
He focused on corporate social responsibility by pledging $50 million to rebuild Newark after the 1967 riots.
He expanded global operations and diversified into healthcare and real estate.
His leadership shaped Prudential’s community engagement approach, which the insurer is known for today.
1978-1994
Winters joined Prudential in 1953 and became CEO in 1978.
He faced the savings and loan crisis and increased industry competition.
He streamlined operations and expanded investment management (later PGIM).
Winters was big on international partnerships, including a joint venture with Sony in 1979 to sell life insurance in Japan.
1994-2007
Ryan became Prudential’s first external CEO after a career at Chase Manhattan Bank.
He orchestrated the landmark demutualization, culminating in Prudential Financial’s NYSE debut on December 13, 2001.
His gloomy tenure included a $2 billion class action lawsuit over deceptive sales practices and a $35 million regulatory fine in 1997.
Ryan also sold Prudential HealthCare to Aetna for $1 billion in 1999 and acquired American Skandia for $1.2 billion in 2003.
2008-2018
A 30-year Prudential veteran, Strangfeld guided the firm through the 2008 financial crisis, pivoting toward fee-based asset management through PGIM. He also shed non-core operations.
He acquired AIG’s Japanese life insurance units in 2011 for $4.8 billion.
Strangfeld’s leadership was based on a “no drama, low ego, high impact” culture.
By 2018, the company’s assets in management had grown to over $1.2 trillion, and it appeared multiple times on Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list.
2018-2025
Lowrey managed Prudential through the COVID-19 pandemic.
He worked on digital transformation and strategic divestments.
He divested the retail advisory arm to LPL Financial in 2024, transferred $60 billion in assets, and oversaw the 150th-anniversary celebrations in 2025.
He later acquired online startup Assurance IQ for $2.35 billion in 2019 to expand digital distribution, though this later underperformed expectations.
Lowrey established Prudential’s Environmental, Social & Governance office in 2019 before transitioning to Executive Chairman in March 2025.
2025-present
Sullivan is a Naval Academy graduate and former nuclear submarine officer.
He was appointed CEO on March 31, 2025, after leading Prudential’s International Businesses and Global Investment Management divisions.
His early tenure focuses on unifying global divisions for insurance and retirement under a single leadership structure.
Sullivan, who has experience in healthcare and insurance, including roles at Cigna and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, brings a technology-focused approach to Prudential’s future growth strategy.
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