Des Moines, Iowa-based Principal Financial Group has selected Natalie Lamarque as its new general counsel, effective August 1.
Lamarque will take up the position from Mark Lagomarcino who is retiring after 20 years with Principal and has served as interim general counsel to enable a smooth transition. Chris Littlefield, the company’s previous general counsel, became president of Principal’s retirement and income solutions business on April 1. Littlefield joined the company in 2020.
In her new role, Lamarque will oversee the law department, including government relations and compliance, and be corporate secretary. She is joining Principal from New York Life Insurance Company, where she has been senior vice president and general counsel since 2020. She has also led New York Life’s insurance and agency, investments, corporate practice and tax teams. She joined New York Life in 2014 as an associate general counsel in the company’s litigation group.
Before that, she was an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, a role in which she prosecuted federal crimes as a member of the organized crime unit. Earlier in her career, she was an associate in the litigation department of law firm Debevoise & Plimpton.
Lagomarcino joined Principal in 2002 as counsel, was named vice president and associate general counsel for litigation in March 2006 and was promoted to senior vice president and deputy general counsel in March 2016. Before working at Principal, he was a partner at Hanson Bjork & Russell and associate general counsel with Maytag Corporation.
Dan Houston, chair, president and CEO of Principal, says in a statement: ‘With Natalie’s extensive expertise managing complex legal matters, she is well positioned to help identify and meet the goals of our business. Her unique experience will provide a welcome perspective to Principal – providing diverse viewpoints, creative problem-solving and passion for the law.
‘As part of the executive team, Natalie will help oversee and provide legal solutions to our businesses around the world. We greatly appreciate Mark’s dedication to Principal in delaying his retirement to help us ensure a smooth transition.’
Ben Maiden
Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Governance Intelligence, an IR Media publication, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. Ben was previously managing editor of Compliance Reporter, covering regulatory and compliance...
