Mutual of Omaha has named Earl Dudley Jr. as its next chief human resources officer, effective July 13. The announcement, made on June 22, 2026, comes as the Omaha-based insurer manages one of the most significant corporate transitions in its 117-year history.
Dudley joins from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, where he served as executive human resources business partner. He brings more than two decades of HR leadership experience across multiple industries.
In his new role, Dudley will oversee workforce strategy and organizational development at one of the country's largest insurance groups.
Mutual of Omaha completed its reorganization into a mutual holding company structure in April 2026. That move made it the second-largest US life mutual insurance holding company by gross premium volume. The firm now serves more than 5.6 million customers and 54,000 employer groups across all 50 states.
Chairman and CEO James Blackledge said Dudley's background in HR strategy and organizational transformation made him well-suited to the position. He said workforce development sits at the center of the company's broader mission.
"Earl brings proven insurance industry experience leveraging HR strategy and leading transformation to support business outcomes," Blackledge said. "Our workforce is at the core of our mission of helping more people more completely meet their financial needs, and Earl will play a vital role as we position our workforce for the future."
Blackledge added that he expects Dudley to be a strong cultural fit within the executive leadership team.
The hire carries broader significance for an industry under acute workforce pressure. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 400,000 insurance workers will retire by 2026.
That wave is arriving as AI reshapes entry-level roles across the sector. Some 91% of insurance and pension fund employers plan to hire AI-skilled workers, well above the global average of 62%.
Hard data from early 2026 puts those pressures in sharp relief. A Q1 2026 study by The Jacobson Group and Aon found insurance job openings hit a decade low by December 2025. Monthly openings fell from 281,000 annually to roughly 138,000. P&C headcount grew just 0.81% year over year, well below the anticipated rate of 1.42%.
Dudley holds a bachelor's degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Mutual of Omaha offers insurance and financial products for individuals, businesses, and groups across the United States. It is a Fortune 500 company founded in 1909 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
