Cigna Corporation has announced that John Murabito (pictured above), longtime chief human resources officer and current chief administrative officer, will retire on April 1. He is succeeded by Cynthia Ryan, who has held numerous human resources roles of increasing responsibility since joining Cigna 23 years ago. Ryan was named CHRO in August in order to ensure a seamless transition.
“John’s leadership has been critical to our company’s growth, and I have valued his steady counsel and strategic thinking,” said David Cordani, chairman and CEO of Cigna. “He leaves Cigna with an impressive track record of building and sustaining a world-class human resources team that supports our 70,000 employees across the globe.”
Murabito joined Cigna in 2003 and served as CHRO for nearly 19 years, during which time he also spearheaded the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, charitable giving, and the Cigna Foundation. During his tenure, Murabito’s leadership has been critical to the evolution of Cigna’s HR function, multiple mergers and acquisitions, and leadership development and talent management, the company said.
More recently, as CAO, Murabito led the enterprise marketing function and transitioned human resources to Ryan. Prior to joining Cigna, Murabito served as CHRO of Monsanto and held HR leadership roles at Frito-Lay. He is a member of the Winnebago Industries board of directors, chairman of the board of trustees at Augustana College, and a member of the board of directors at the Human Resources Policy Association and the American Health Policy Institute. Murabito is a former HR Executive of the Year and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from HRO Today.
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“John has been an incredible leader, mentor and friend to me for almost two decades,” said Ryan (pictured below). “I’m grateful for the team he’s built and the legacy he leaves – both on the HR function and our company as a whole. Our employees drive our business forward, and I am committed to giving them the tools and resources they need to successfully serve our customers, clients and communities. It is an honor to take on the role of CHRO at this pivotal moment when we have the opportunity to shape the future of work together.”
Ryan most recently served as senior vice president and human resources officer for Cigna’s US businesses. Before that, she served as human resources leader for Cigna’s commercial and government businesses, enterprise strategy and solutions, and global technology. Earlier in her career, she led the company’s global talent management organization, which encompassed recruitment, learning and development, leadership development, strategic workforce planning, performance management and employee relations.
“I’ve known Cindy for more than 20 years, and I am confident that she will build on the legacy of excellence that John created,” Cordani said. “Particularly as the talent landscape is shifting significantly, Cindy’s expertise will enable us to attract and retain the talent necessary to deliver on our company’s purpose and growth strategy.”
