James T. Blackledge

James Blackledge is chairman and CEO of Mutual of Omaha, Inc.

Prior to his appointment as president, Blackledge was executive vice president, chief information officer and chief risk officer, overseeing the company's technology, applications and systems infrastructure as well as enterprise risk management. Blackledge joined Mutual of Omaha in 1989 as a senior actuarial assistant in Group Actuarial. He served 14 years in various roles within the Group Benefit Services unit, six years in the Individual Financial Services unit and five years in Information Services. Blackledge earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in business administration from Creighton University. He's a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and a prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst in the CFA Institute. In addition, Blackledge serves on the Creighton University Board of Trustees and the Essence Group Holding Corporation Board of Directors. He's also the immediate past chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors. 

one of the nation's leading providers of insurance and financial services for individuals, families and businesses. Blackledge, who became president of Mutual of Omaha in 2014, was appointed CEO in 2015. He then became chairman in January 2018.