Life Insurance Investments - Product Strategy

New York Life Insurance Co•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This executive role is accountable for the strategic oversight and performance of the Institutional Life (IL) insurance investment platform and product suite. Reporting directly to the Head of Institutional Life at New York Life (NYL), the role owns end-to-end accountability for IL’s investment strategy, product design and competitiveness, and the evolution of the investment platform across multiple chassis (private placement, registered funds, and proprietary structures), supporting a complex, multi-structure platform serving a broad institutional client base. Operating as a senior business leader, this role serves as a critical advocate for the Institutional Life business - ensuring that market dynamics, competitive pressures, and client needs are continuously translated into actionable investment and product strategies. The role is accountable for business outcomes, including product competitiveness, platform performance, and long-term value delivery with direct impact on growth, profitability, and capital efficiency of the Institutional Life business. Success in this role requires decisive execution, innovative solutions that leverage NYL’s capabilities, and true ownership of the investment platform. As a key member of the senior leadership team, drive and deliver on IL priorities, shape strategic direction, and exercise significant influence over investment and product decisions, operating with a high degree of autonomy. This role is based in New York City at the New York Life home office, with an expectation of at least three days per week in-office (Tuesday–Thursday). Occasional travel is required to support business priorities, including collaboration with the Kansas-based team, participation in industry conferences, and engagement with key intermediaries. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the IL business by integrating investment innovation with product strategy to deliver differentiated solutions in a competitive and evolving market.

Requirements

You are a senior leader with deep expertise at the intersection of insurance products and investment platforms.
You bring a strong command of product chassis design, asset structures, and long-term value mechanics within institutional life solutions.
You operate as a strategic thought partner - translating market dynamics into actionable business decisions while ensuring alignment between centralized investment capabilities and business-specific needs.
You are trusted to lead independently, develop senior talent, and represent the voice of the business in complex, high-stakes discussions.
You bring a balance of strategic vision and execution discipline, with the ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, enterprise environment.
Driven and intellectually curious leader with a track record of developing talent, challenging the status quo, fostering innovative thinking, and delivering results
Deep experience in the institutional life insurance space
Expertise in life insurance product strategy and development
Strong investment acumen, including experience with fixed income assets, private placement structures, and related investment strategies
Demonstrated experience leading and developing senior leaders and multi-layered teams
Proven ability to grow and scale complex, multi-dimensional businesses
Strong strategic thinking and executive-level communication skills
Bachelor’s degree required

Nice To Haves

CFA or equivalent investment credential strongly preferred
Familiarity with key intermediaries and structuring platforms (e.g., IDF, MSA, or similar)
FINRA licensing (e.g., Series 6)
Track record of aligning centralized investment functions with business-specific strategy
Experience engaging with institutional distribution channels and intermediated markets

Responsibilities

Provide executive oversight of the IL investment platform, ensuring alignment with long-term value creation, business strategy, and risk parameters across private placement, registered funds, and proprietary structures.
Own and guide IL’s investment strategy, with accountability for platform performance and long-term value delivery; serve as the primary business authority influencing investment direction and decision-making, leveraging market insights, competitive intelligence, and client needs to guide platform direction.
Apply advanced investment expertise - particularly across fixed income assets, derivatives, and structured solutions - to strengthen IL capabilities and improve outcomes.
Oversee the full product lifecycle, ensuring new offerings are competitive and well-positioned, and that in-force products are actively managed and maintained.
Establish and execute a disciplined, forward-looking product filing strategy, ensuring regulatory alignment and efficient execution across jurisdictions.
Maintain deep expertise in IL solutions and client needs to effectively represent the business across NYL. Drive alignment and influence outcomes across key partners - including Government Affairs, Legal (internal and external counsel), the Office of the Chief Investment Officer, Tax, Finance, Asset Liability Management (ALM), Compliance, Controllers, Investment Management, and Life Insurance Solutions - to appropriately position complex, cross-functional challenges and achieve balanced, business-aligned resolutions.
Directly oversee an investment leader and product leader, with broader responsibility for investment support and product management teams; drive execution, collaboration, and the development of high-performing leaders.
Serve as a core member of the senior leadership team, contributing to enterprise strategy, challenging assumptions, and driving high-impact business decisions.
Build and maintain relationships with key intermediaries and industry participants to inform strategy, enhance market positioning, and identify growth opportunities.