Symetra appoints Solynn McCurdy as SVP, Chief DE&I Officer

Symetra Life Insurance Company has announced the appointment of Solynn McCurdy as Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Officer; a new role for the organisation.

McCurdy joins Symetra’s leadership team and will lead its newly formed DE&I office; with responsibility for driving the company’s DE&I strategy. He reports to Anne-Marie Diouf, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

“Solynn is a respected leader and recognised innovator; with deep experience developing and strengthening equitable and inclusive programmes, practices and policies,” stated Diouf. “He joins Symetra at a critical point on our DE&I journey and will be responsible for crafting a long-term holistic vision to advance our current work; ensuring we deliver on our DE&I commitments, building on the results achieved by our Inclusive Diversity Council and Employee Resource Groups; and collaborating on our divisional and departmental action plans. As an organisational change agent, Solynn will partner with our senior leaders to embed DE&I goals as drivers of sustained results across the company; for products, partners, customers and employees.” 

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ADVOCATE

Most recently, McCurdy was Senior Vice President of Social Impact at BECU. There he oversaw all philanthropic and financial health efforts, community engagement and cooperative community advocacy for Washington state’s largest credit union; and its more than 2,300 employees. He was instrumental in reimagining the BECU Foundation and strategising to accelerate its DE&I work. Additionally, he was the founding executive sponsor for their Black Alliance Cooperative Employee Connections Group.

Prior to joining BECU, McCurdy was CEO of Social Venture Partners Seattle; and led social impact programmes at Premera Blue Cross. Formerly, he was Director of external affairs at Seattle University, where he stewarded regional strategies in community engagement and advocacy. McCurdy received a master’s in education from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Washington. He has served on the curriculum committee for Leadership Tomorrow; and on the board of trustees for the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.