MassMutual CIO Casale Made EVP

MassMutual has named Bob Casale executive vice president, amid several executive promotions effective April 1, including Debra Palermino's elevation to executive vice president for human resources, and several promotions to senior vice president.

The Springfield, Mass.-based carrier cites Casale's leadership in the implementation a streamlined, efficient organizational structure, continued delivery of the company's modernization programs, maintenance of superior production operations, and enhancement of the strategic focus of the company's IT division. Casale is responsible for enterprise-wide IT operations, corporate solutions delivery, data management, IT security, business continuity planning and overall governance of the IT development process, and oversight of IT across MassMutual's subsidiaries. Casale, who arrived at MassMutual in 1995, was named one of Insurance & Technology's Elite 8 senior insurance technology executives in 2009.

Debra Palermino, who has also been named executive vice president, has presided over the successful implementation of a new performance management process, has introduced initiatives to provide employees with tools to manage personal health and financial well-being, and has established a robust succession planning process, according to MassMutual news release.

Of the executive vice president promotions of Casale and Palermino, as well as those of six corporate vice president to senior vice president, Roger W. Crandall, MassMutual's president and CEO commented, "All of these individuals have outstanding track records of leadership, and these promotions are a reflection of their significant past accomplishments and growth as senior leaders in our organization."

Mass Mutual's senior vice president promotions, as reported within the company's news release, are as follows:

David Allen, Deputy General Counsel, Law. Allen is responsible for the company's dispute resolution function and all legal aspects of its company tax function. He has been with MassMutual since 2000.

John Deitelbaum, Deputy General Counsel, Law. Deitelbaum is responsible for the legal functions supporting the company's U.S. Insurance Group and Retirement Services businesses. He joined MassMutual in 1996.

Bill Silvanic, Finance and Target Markets, Retirement Services. Silvanic is responsible for strategic planning, pricing, financial reporting and risk management, as well as leading the Retirement Services division's defined benefit and professional employer organization businesses. He has been with MassMutual since 2003.

Norm Smith, Corporate Financial. Smith has served as the Controller in the company's Corporate Financial division since 2004. In this role, he has responsibility for the company's financial and investment reporting, accounting policy and financial systems. He joined MassMutual in 2000.

Trish Walsh, Deputy General Counsel, Law. Walsh serves as general counsel at Babson Capital Management LLC, a MassMutual subsidiary, where she is responsible for the company's overall legal management and strategy. In addition, she is responsible for legal support for MassMutual's investment activities. She has been with MassMutual since 2002.

Eric Wietsma, Investment Services, Retirement Services. As head of the Investment Services function in the company's Retirement Services business, Wietsma is responsible for investment strategy, research, product development, reporting and treasury operations. He joined MassMutual in 2005.

Anthony O'Donnell has covered technology in the insurance industry since 2000, when he joined the editorial staff of Insurance & Technology. As an editor and reporter for I&T and the InformationWeek Financial Services of TechWeb he has written on all areas of information ... View Full Bio