Leadership

James R. Belardi
Chief Executive Officer
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Prior to founding Athene Holding Ltd. and AAM, Jim was President of SunAmerica Life Insurance Company and was also Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of AIG Retirement Services, Inc., responsible for a $250 billion invested asset portfolio. Sun America was the best performing stock on the NYSE in the 1990s, appreciating 21,300 percent or 213 times. In 1994, Jim created the GIC-backed note (GICBN), which has since developed into a $300 billion market. AIG SunAmerica is the
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Guy H. Smith, III (Chip)
President and Chief Operating Officer
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Chip Smith is president and chief operating officer of Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company, a subsidiary of Athene Holding, Ltd. focused on retail annuity sales and reinsurance in the retirement services market.
Mr. Smith was president and CEO of Liberty Life Insurance Company from April 2010 until its acquisition by Athene in April 2011. Before that he served as Liberty’s vice president, treasurer, and chief financial officer.
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Christopher Grady
Executive Vice President and Head of Retail
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Chris Grady joined Athene Annuity in March 2011 as the Head of Retail, responsible for building a market-leading provider of consumer retirement solutions under the Athene brand.
Prior to joining Athene Annuity, Chris was President of distribution and marketing for Genworth Financial’s life insurance companies. He oversaw a diverse, multi-channel sales and marketing organization that produced nearly $4.7 billion in annuity sales and more than $550 million in premiums in life and long term care
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Rod Mims
Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Rod Mims joined Athene Annuity in July 2011 as the National Sales Manager with responsibility for sales and business development.
Mr. Mims has over 20 years of insurance and investment experience in a broad sprectrum of roles ranging from personal production and wholesaling to sales managerment at the division and national levels. Prior to joining Athene Annuity, he was the national sales manager for Genworth Financial, with responsility spanning its bank, wirehouse and independent broker
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Alison Denis
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Alison Denis joined Athene Annuity in September 2011 as Chief Marketing Officer responsible for brand management, advertising and communications, sales training and incentive programs for Athene’s expanding retail annuity business.
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Media Contacts

Bill Free
Manager, Strategic Communications and Corporate Affairs
P.O. Box 1389
2000 Wade Hampton Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29602-1389
Office: 864-609-1187
Cell: 864-414-0862
bfree@athene.com