WEST CHESTER, PA — Venerable announced the recent promotion of Lee Barnard to executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary, expanding his responsibilities to include oversight of the company’s Legal and Compliance teams.
Barnard, who joined Venerable in 2020, has led legal structuring and negotiations tied to mergers and acquisitions and reinsurance transactions, while advising the company’s finance, risk and investment management operations, the company said. Since 2024, he has managed Venerable’s Legal team.
In his expanded role, Barnard will oversee the Compliance team, join the company’s Executive Committee and serve as a strategic advisor to Venerable’s leadership team and board of directors.
David Marcinek, chairman and chief executive officer of Venerable, said Barnard has played a key role in the company’s leadership structure.
“Lee has consistently demonstrated exceptional executive leadership and sound judgment throughout his tenure at Venerable,” Marcinek said. “His deep expertise and strategic insight make him well-equipped to help guide our organization forward and advance our growth strategy.”
Before joining Venerable, Barnard served as executive director and assistant general counsel at Franklin Square Holdings. He also worked at the law firms Kirkland & Ellis and Debevoise & Plimpton in New York.
Barnard holds a law degree from University of Pennsylvania Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Emory University.
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