Toshihiro Nakashima

President and Chief Executive Officer

President and Chief Executive Officer, Toshihiro "Tommy" Nakashima joined Nippon Life Benefits in March, 2010 from the parent company, Nippon Life Insurance Company of Japan.  He has held several investment management and human resource management positions there, serving most recently as General Manager of the Human Resources Department.

Tommy joined the Nippon Life Insurance Company in 1988.  He resided in Singapore from 1998-2002 where he held the position of Equity Portfolio Manager.  Tommy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Keio University in Tokyo.  

Tommy resides in Connecticut with his wife and two children.  He enjoys reading, golfing, and spending quality time with his family.

Francine Young

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Francine "Fran" Young is responsible for the oversight of the U.S. insurance operations for Nippon Life Benefits.

Named to her current position in 2011, Fran previously served as Senior Vice President, Chief Business Development Officer. She joined Nippon Life Benefits in 2007 with more than 25 years of industry experience, and has held previous leadership positions with Guardian Life Insurance, NYLCare, (a New York Life subsidiary) and New England Life.

Fran holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bloomsburg University. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter and currently serves on the board of Catherine McAuley High School in Brooklyn, NY.

Tess Leopold

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Tess Leopold oversees the legal, compliance and corporate governance functions for Nippon Life Benefits, a U.S. mutual company affiliate of one of the world's largest life insurers, Nippon Life Insurance Company of Japan.

Tess joined the company in 2011, after serving in legal and compliance positions with Guardian Life Insurance Company and AIG.  In the course of her legal career, she has also worked as in-house litigation specialist and corporate generalist at Siemens Corporation, in private practice and as a government prosecutor assigned to the King's County District Attorney homicide unit.  She is a member of the Bar in New York and New Jersey.

Tess holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and a bachelor of liberal arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College.  She attended The Brearley School in New York City.

She is married, has two children and lives with her family in Rumson, NJ.

Joe McLaughlin

Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer

As Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer, Joe is responsible for the oversight of new business sales and product development for Nippon Life Benefits.

Named to his current position in August 2011, Joe previously served as 2nd Vice President in charge of Nippon's Managing General Agent Distribution Channel. He joined Nippon Life Benefits in October 2007 with more than 20 years of industry experience, and has held previous leadership positions with John Alden Life Insurance Company and Assurant Health.

Joe holds a Bachelors of Business Communications Degree from Ohio University. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Larchmont, New York.