Kevin McCarthy

Retired Chief Executive Officer; Unum US

Kevin P. McCarthy recently retired as Chief Operating Officer, Unum Group.  In this role, he was responsible for the overall management of Unum’s worldwide insurance operations.  He previously served as President and CEO of Unum US, the company’s largest business unit.

Mr. McCarthy first joined Unum in 1976. He moved through a number of officer level positions in the company including reinsurance, underwriting, and marketing and product management. From 1984 to 1987, he was chief operating officer for General Health, Inc.  In 1987, Mr. McCarthy returned to Unum as vice president, Long Term Disability Products and Markets and was named vice president, Long Term Care Markets and Products in 1990.  In 1993, Mr. McCarthy moved to Japan to initiate the company’s operations there and was named President of Unum Japan in 1996, Chairman in 1998, and Senior Vice President of Unum’s International Operations in the same year.  In 2001, McCarthy became Senior Vice President of Underwriting and in 2006 Executive Vice President of Risk Operations for Unum Group, becoming President of Unum US in 2007.

Mr. McCarthy is currently a director/trustee of the University of Maine System, Maine & Company, the Davis Foundations, and AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans).

Mr. McCarthy has previously been the Chairman of the Insurance Subcommittee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, where he was significantly involved in U.S.-Japan bilateral negotiations regarding deregulation and market access.  He has previously been a director of LIMRA International, the International Insurance Council, the Maine International Trade Center, the World Affairs Council, the Portland Museum of Art, the United Way of Greater Portland, the Maine Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and the Maine Public Broadcasting  Network.

Mr. McCarthy received his degree in business, graduating summa cum laude, from the University of Southern Maine in 1978.  He also holds an honorary Doctorate in Public Service from St. Joseph’s College.