BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Symetra, a national provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, today announced that the Puget Sound Business Journal has named Margaret Meister one of its 2015 CFO of the Year honorees. These annual awards recognize financial professionals in Washington State for exceptional financial stewardship and corporate leadership across eight categories, including nonprofit, private and public. Selections are based on the prior year's company performance; the executive’s contributions for economic growth within the organization; and their leadership role in the larger business community. Ms. Meister is the recipient of the 2015 CFO Leadership Award.
“Margaret Meister is a prime example of the modern, multi-faceted CFO, whose role has evolved from a focus on managing a company’s financials to leading key strategic aspects of a major multi-line corporation. She is a rare talent who possesses an uncanny combination of financial acumen, business judgment and outstanding leadership,” said Tom Marra, president and CEO of Symetra Financial Corporation. “In 2014, Margaret’s contributions to Symetra continued to span the breadth of the company and were felt deep within an organization seeking to grow into a national player in the insurance industry.”
Ms. Meister joined Symetra in May 1988 as an actuarial student. In February 2006, she was appointed to her current position as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Symetra Financial Corporation and its insurance subsidiaries. Ms. Meister leads the company’s financial operations and strategy, and serves as a liaison between the company and its board of directors, shareholders, rating agencies and analysts. She also serves as the chief risk officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of Symetra and currently oversees Information Technology.
Ms. Meister holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. She currently serves on the board of directors of the United Way of King County.
This is the ninth year that the Puget Sound Business Journal has honored the financial super-strategists of Washington companies and organizations. Ms. Meister will be recognized along with the seven other category winners at the 2015 CFO of the Year Awards dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Seattle on June 4. For more information about the Puget Sound Business Journal's 2015 CFO of the Year Awards, please visit http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/event/122981
About Symetra
Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE: SYA) is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.
