The Society of Actuaries (SOA) announced the planned retirement of chief executive officer Greg Heidrich (pictured above), who has led the organization since 2007. Heidrich is expected to step down by summer 2026.
The SOA said it has retained Heidrick & Struggles to conduct an international search for its next CEO. The search will be managed in partnership with the SOA board of directors and a board-appointed search committee.
The new leader will be tasked with advancing the SOA’s strategic plan, which centers on optimizing the candidate pipeline, expanding the organization’s global presence, and leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation for members.
“Over the past 18 years serving as the SOA’s CEO, it’s been the privilege of my professional life to work alongside our dedicated board, staff, elected, and volunteer leaders to grow and evolve educational pathways and research programs to better meet the ever-changing needs of our members, candidates and employers,” Heidrich said.
Heidrich has overseen several changes to the SOA’s educational offerings, including the evolution of the Fellowship pathway, which aims to improve the learning experience and increase flexibility for candidates.
He also played a role in developing the Centers of Actuarial Excellence university recognition program, the University-Earned Credit program, and the Hickman Scholars program. In addition, Heidrich led the introduction of the General Insurance track, expanding the SOA’s credentialing to cover all actuarial disciplines.
During his leadership, the SOA established the SOA Research Institute and launched strategic research programs. These initiatives have produced experience studies and research on topics such as aging, retirement, climate risk, mortality, longevity, and health care cost trends. The SOA has also expanded its professional development offerings, including the launch of the PD Edge Plus subscription-based online learning platform.
Recent appointments in the insurance industry highlight the presence of SOA fellows in senior roles. In August, Jason Frain, a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and member of the American Academy of Actuaries, was named head of retirement solutions at Transamerica.
The SOA’s credentialing is also represented at the board level in the insurance industry. Laura Hay, a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, joined the board of Everest Group in August 2025. Hay, who previously served as global head of insurance at KPMG LLP, currently sits on the boards of MetLife, Inc. and the Girl Scouts of Greater New York.
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