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Alice Lloyd College 1980 Alumnus George Nichols III went from his time along the banks of Caney Creek to an enormously successful career in the financial services profession, both in the public and private sectors. It is this extensive career that has uniquely qualified Mr. Nichols to serve as the new president and chief executive officer for The American College of Financial Services. This new opportunity follows Mr. Nichols’ 17-year career with New York Life, most recently serving as executive vice president in charge of the Office of Governmental Affairs, which encompasses all state, federal and international legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues at the company.

Mr. Nichols joined New York Life in 2001 and during his first five years held a variety of principal roles including special assistant to the chairman, where he supported strategic initiatives related to international marketing and regulatory policy, senior vice president in the Agency Group, and head of New York Life Direct, the company’s Tampa-based direct sales unit. He joined the Office of Governmental Affairs in 2006, assumed its leadership in 2007, and was subsequently named to the company’s Executive Management Committee.  In 2017, Mr. Nichols also developed an executive leadership institute for the top leaders of the company.

“New York Life is an institution known for living its core values and doing business the right way, qualities I embedded into my career there and which I intend to carry into this next phase of my journey,” said Mr. Nichols. “I welcome the opportunity to share my leadership, values, and dedication for the benefit of future generations of financial professionals, to help them fulfill their calling and further their pursuit of lifelong learning.”

Over the years, Mr. Nichols has continued to be an influential Kentuckian, serving as Kentucky’s first African-American insurance commissioner (1995). Additionally, he has served as the first African-American president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (1999), and the first African-American elected to New York Life’s Executive Management Committee (2006). Mr. Nichols has been named twice (2012 and 2018) to the list of “Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America,” by Savoy, the leading African-American business and lifestyle magazine.

George Nichols III has not only vigorously pursued his path along the purpose road, but as a long-standing friend, alumnus, and faithful trustee of Alice Lloyd College, he has continued to ensure that current ALC eagles are able to do so as well.

*Contains information from the official The American College of Financial Services press release.