Principal Financial Group Chairman, President & CEO Dan Houston Recognized with the 2023 Ray Lillywhite Award by EBRI at the Defined Contribution West Conference in San Diego, CA

Principal Financial Group chairman, president & CEO Dan Houston received the 2023 Ray Lillywhite Award today from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) at the Defined Contribution West Conference in San Diego, CA. The Ray Lillywhite Award celebrates contributions by individuals who have had distinguished careers in the retirement and investment management fields and whose outstanding service has enhanced Americans' economic security. The award is presented by EBRI as merited by individual and group excellence and is named after Ray Lillywhite, a pioneer in the pension field who for decades guided state employee pension plans.

“For nearly four decades, Dan has tirelessly shown a true dedication to industry growth, innovation and financial security for all Americans. His strong sense for community support has permeated into the overall business philosophy for Principal globally – and that’s part of its success today. The Employee Benefit Research Institute recognizes Dan with the 2023 Ray Lillywhite Award because of his longtime focus on advanced financial security and retirement programs for employees and employers,” said Barb Marder, president & CEO, EBRI.

Past Ray Lillywhite Award winners included: U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Ben Cardin; Howard Fluhr, The Segal Group; Karin Brodbeck, Nestlé USA; Olivia Mitchell, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; and William F. Sharpe, Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this year’s Lillywhite Award,” said Dan Houston, Principal chairman, president, and CEO. “Financial security is not just a personal achievement but a societal imperative. It is our collective responsibility to help ensure that everyone has access to the products, tools and knowledge needed to secure their own financial future.”

Houston joined Principal in 1984. He has held several management positions, being named senior vice president in 2000, executive vice president in 2006, and president of the retirement division in 2008. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2014 before assuming his current role in 2015. Houston is a member of the Business Roundtable, past chair of the American Council of Life Insurers, chair of the ICON Water Trails initiative and served on the EBRI board of directors, as well now advising multiple organizations including the Iowa State University Business School Dean’s Advisory Council, Future Ready Iowa, Partnership for a Healthier America, and Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.