CNO Financial Group has tapped 25-year human resources industry veteran and retired Air National Guard Major Yvonne Franzese as its chief human resources officer.

Franzese previously held top leadership roles in human resources for Allianz of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Metlife in addition to her service in the Air National Guard. In her new role, she will report directly to the company’s president and CEO successor Gary Bhojwani.

"Yvonne is a highly accomplished human resources leader with extensive experience in the insurance and financial services industry," Bhojwani said in a press release. "She has a proven track record in organizational talent management and facilitating collaborative, high-performance cultures. We look forward to benefitting from her experience and leadership as we continue to execute our strategy for growth over the long-term, and she'll play an important role in the continued success of CNO." 

Franzese is a graduate of Wright State University where she earned her master of science degree in applied behavioral science. 

Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, CNO is one of the 10 largest public companies in the state with a $3.5 billion market capitalization. CNO is a holding company with several insurance subsidiaries including Bankers Life and Casualty Co., Colonial Pen Life Insurance Co. and Washington National Insurance Co.